The first leg of the Captains Cup between me and Jamie was nothing short of a spectacle. Jamie's game plan was thrown off right from the start due to a mix-up with the new WhatsApp poll. Neil's absence from the poll led Jamie to believe he had an extra man, only to find out Neil was indeed playing, making the teams even. Jamie claimed this unexpected twist impacted his picking strategy, but we'll let him have that excuse!

The match kicked off with a bang, reminiscent of a high paced Pro Evolution Soccer game. Within the first ten minutes, we netted two goals, setting a confident tone. By the 15-minute mark, we had a third goal, showcasing some slick passing and teamwork.

However, the game took a turn when Tom, after 15 minutes in goal, injured his hamstring. To play it safe, he switched to goalkeeping duties, and I moved to the left wing. This change paid off as I assisted Richie in scoring our fourth goal.

The Whites managed to get one back, courtesy of an own goal from Gary, but the Yellows were firmly in control. The goals kept flowing, with Nick bagging a hat-trick and Richie scoring four*, including a contentious own goal claim.

Jamie did manage to claw one back after coming out and getting a toe on a deflection, but it was too little, too late. I sealed the deal with a ‘precision‘ strike to the bottom left corner, making it 8-2, and Cush put the final nail in the coffin with a cheeky backheel, ending the game at 9-2.

Overall, it was one of the most comfortable matches played for some time, leaving Jamie with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

Man of the Match goes to Richie for his creativity and goal-scoring prowess, netting 3 (or 4, depending on who you ask).

Looking forward to the next leg!