I arrived at the Lawn amid rumours of a new crisis, the wages had again not been paid, and the Catering Manager and the First Team Manager were both absent, as were Suleiman Al Fahtie (‘just call me Larry’) and his advertisement banner. The Chairman was quick to deny stories that the Club were on the verge of entering administration and that Van Cart had been ousted as a result of the 1^st team playing ‘negative and unambitious football’ and for refusing to follow the party line by reducing the wage bill. The flames were fanned when Steve Fallon (of Histon or ex of Histon, who knows!) was later spotted at the match.

The stiffs, sorry I forgot that the Chairman has banned me from using this description for the reserves, lined up with Weeman and Martin Turner added to the normal squad for the visit of runaway leaders CUP A (that’s CUP Super Stiffs in old money). Manager Paddy Van Ancarrepairs, who unusually for his profession hadn’t banned a Xmas party or head butted (allegedly!) any one of the squad this week, after much thought decided to start with a 4-4-2 ( Big Ant - Kay, the veteran Turner, Pistol, and Heslam – Weeman, AJ, Ansell, Tubes – PJ and Martin). On the bench were Arge, Dan and the prolific Si Taylor but the now ‘first team regular’ Big Ben missed out.  YTS and I were pleased to attend a reserve team game again as it would allow us to resume our favourite occupation of ‘baiting the home lino’, although we did not get full value as Dan was preferred to our favourite target Jose. The home team started brightly and went on to largely dominate the first half. The visitors were reliant, perhaps overly, in attempting use the left winger as an outlet particularly when a number of attempts were made by 30+ yard passes. Despite the early dominance the home faithful, boosted by a few of the first team squad, had to wait for about 15 minutes before the first meaningful opportunity arrived. An excellent free kick from the left by AJ was met with a good header from PJ but the ball finished comfortably over the bar. Weeman, who had drifted in field from his wide station, then found Turner with a neat ball however the defender recovered well after being turned to block Martin’s goal attempt. AJ then fed Martin down the inside right channel Turner left the defenders trailing before beating the keeper low down at his near post as the keeper advanced from his line. The lead was soon doubled when an incisive pass from Weeman again left Martin in the clear and he finished coolly. The first team midfielder was beginning to look like a natural striker! The home side then produced their move of the game down the right flank involving Kay, Weeman, Tubes and Turner. An excellent far post cross with met by PJ who headed into the net. However, the CUP linesman had flagged for off side against the big fella. Opinion was divided on the east bank but our most impartial fan Big Mart positioned in line on the West Bank reckoned it was a good goal. I sensed that the referee probably agreed but he gave the linesman the benefit of the doubt. The sense of injustice was heightened when PJ’s deceptive pace took him clear of the visitors defence as he chased a Turner flick, and he appeared to be tripped as he rounded the keeper. He regained his feet as the referee waved play on but his weak shot from a difficult angle was easily cleared. The home side then lost a bit of momentum and Weeman copped a bit of flack from the Press, the lovely Carley jumped straight to her hero’s defence telling the Press ‘ leave him alone he’s only had four hours of sleep’ (The Press were stunned into admiration of his Tiger-like stamina!). The home side sprang back into life when Tubes evaded his marker and put in a tremendous far post cross from wide on the right. A weak effort from Weeman failed to fully test the keeper. CUP made a couple of positional changes which beefed up their midfield and they shaded the last five or so minutes of the half , as the home side lost a bit of shape and things became a little frenetic.

Half time – 2 v 0 – Carley, ably assisted by Joyce, deputised for Linda and according to No Neck produced the best cuppa of the season so far (presumably she also only had four hours sleep?). YTS bought the tea. Rooney, after being outed at the Poker Night, decided he could manage a ‘man’s cup of tea’ despite his over indulgence the night before on his favourite tipple of red wine with a Crème de Menthe chaser.

The second half started with CUP building on their foothold at the end of the first period, their early dominance cemented by a personnel change and further strengthening to their midfield where experienced replaced youth. The home side continued to look jittery and we unable to clear their lines effectively, and were being out muscled in the middle of the park. The visitors were unlucky when a good move down the right was switched inside and a shot from the edge of the box hit the right hand post. Just when the faithful were thinking that if the home side could just weather the storm the visitors scored. A long hopeful free kick cleared the home defence and as Big Ant hesitated and the visitors’ number four controlled the ball before turning and shooting into the net. The home side almost hit back when Ansell found Turner on the left edge but his shooting opportunity was quickly closed down. CUP then had a fast break down the left and an early shot flew just over the left apex of the goal. Big Ant then made a comfortably stop following a good move following a throw on the left where about four passes were exchanged. At this point our stereotypical ‘low budget Chav’ Swanny (Gareth is already regretting buying those white trainers!), with David Pleat like insight, stated ‘this one way pressure is killing us’! He later acknowledged that pressure could only ever be one way! However, he was right, and in was no real surprise when the equaliser arrived. A good move down the right and an overlapping run by the right back was capped by a superb cross towards the middle of the goal. A slight deflection from the on rushing attacker was enough to see the ball past Ant and into the left corner. The visitors continued to be on top but were largely restricted to shots from distance which Ant dealt with competently. In desperation and assisted by a couple of timely substitutions, the home side attempted to battle their way back into the game. In an incident, following a robust and totally legal tackle, Darren Ansell spat his dummy out and was lucky to escape sanction from the referee. This however, somewhat perversely, seemed to spur the home side on to finish the final quarter the stronger looking side. However, there were a few hearts in mouths when Mark wrestled an opponent to the ground inside the box. Mark eventually getting the decision (by an ippon to a waza-ari) and the benefit of the doubt from the referee. Martin then with a far post free kick then found his brother Mark who out jumped the defence but he didn’t quite make the contact he would have wished for. Minutes later Mark returned the compliment with a ball from the back which found Martin on the left edge of the box. He took on and beat the defender but his shot was sliced wide.

The match ended with mixed feelings from the home faithful, they were extremely proud of the home side’s first half performance and the finish to the second, but slightly disappointed that a good opportunity had been missed (with a two goal lead plus other opportunities) but also grateful for a draw against a very useful opposition. To take four points from CUP (the only points then have dropped in 12 outings) is something we can build on in our push to finish in the top two.

Supporters MoM – After a tight vote where there was plenty of support for the back four the winner, after the final vote was collected in the VIP lounge, was Pistol. Mark's chances finally disappearing when he was docked a point for cleaning his boots in the shower!