SOBS V MAGS

The Lads (didn't really) welcome them from up the road and duly did them over. It might have been by a single, scruffy, OG, but boy did we deserve that one. They somehow survived without a red card and several yellows were missed for various assaults in Brobbey, and they lost all semblance of control after they fouled Roefs in added time, but hey - they got nowt and we got three points and bragging rights for months. Marvellous.

Of course, the whole event was overshadowed by last night's awful news about Gary Rowell, which fairly knocked me. A local Lad who lived the dream and behaved, when I'd met him, as I'd like to think I would have, had I achieved anything like he had. A lovely man. Let's do it for Gary, the mag slayer.

Of course, that occupied most of the pre-match chat before the sensible daftness in the town centre and the team news...

Roefs

Mukiele Ballard Alderete Reinildo

Xhaka (c) Sadiki

Traore Brobbey Le Fee Talbi

... and a bench of Patto, Hume, Mayenda, Rigg, Neil, Adingra, Mundle, Geertruida, and Isidor.

Into the ground way earlier than ever before, the build-up was something else. There was a tribute to Gary Rowell, which many of the mags joined in with. Nice one. They kicked off south in a manky dark blue kit, and immediately set about playing it long from the keeper - who, according to their fans, doesn't like corners or long throws.

Champion.

The first half hour was basically us being patient and them being a bit gung-ho, but we did allow them, and Guimares in particular, a fair bit of space - especially when the normally dependable Omar played three sloppy passes before half two! Mukiele was very unlucky to be booked when he and not-so-big Dan Burn slid into each other near halfway. On the plus side, the knee to the chest precipitated their man's replacement a few minutes later. After a long throws, the real Big Dan stayed up and headed over the delayed cross. First time is best time, Berty!

Level after the three added minutes, as a result of us being a tad too intricate and them being a lot too long ball - but we'd looked the better side. No changes for the second half, but we really went for it from the off. Nordi whipped in a cross from the right and Voldemort banged his header in off the bar.

The daft get! Didn't matter, we went ballistic in the seats. Well deserved.

Brobbey was getting chopped, barged, or blocked at every opportunity but not one was deserving of a yellow, apparently, and most were waved on. There was an eventual card, as there was for Reinildo before the changes Gordon left the field to jeers, Brobbey to Cheers as Issy came in, as did Hume for Traore. A wonderful volleyed pass by Omar almost got Issy a goal, but it was saved.

We kept allowing them space, but less with Hume on the right and we were treated to a trademark tackle before Mundle replaced Talbi, who got a deserved ovation on 82.

There were four added minutes, in which Roefs, who'd made a string of standard takes, was fouled and the handbags started flying. Xhaka took one to the head and wasn't allowed back on quickly, but we weathered the ...draught, hardly a storm, and the roof nearly came off at the end as we celebrated fourteen years without a league defeat to them.

Lock up your horses, there"s gonna be hell.

Man of the Match? Gary Rowell, or any one of a dozen red 'n' white wizards.