After grabbing 3 points from the previous game, it was with great anticipation that the C squad assembled before their clash with top of the table Mercedes. The C team welcomed a young new-comer named Joe Windows in to the fold. Not much to look at, he showed some decent touches in training with the C's on Thursday night. The coach - Chris - obviously thought the same so decided to name him in the starting line-up. Tim was back in the mix, as was Graeme in goals. And with Saf and cheesy-Pouf in the team as well, it was not surprising that the Mercedes lads looked on with fear.

Before the game Michael Williams was in good voice, deciding to tease a few of the lads, with young Bobby getting a ribbing for asking too many questions. ‘What me?', Bobby said right back. The English lads were in good spirits too, what with all that rain in the morning in was starting to look like a glorious English summer's day! Better get the deck chairs out and the sunscreen too for good measure. The Hong Kong brigade were there in force too, with Jackie, Chester and others all keen play a big role in the proceedings. How their 2-wheelers made it through the mud to get to the pitch I'll never know.

In the first game against Mercedes, we were loosing 3-0 at half-time but managed to win the second half 1-0. Unfortunately the rules were changed for that particular day, with the referee deciding that only the action in the first half was to be considered for the nomination of points, so all 3 points went to Mercedes. In the second game, we managed to lose 5-2. But at least we made it out of there all in one piece, because at one point it looked like their gentle players were going to get not quite so gentle. But we did manage to play pretty well, and get those 2 goals.

Meanwhile, back to the current day's events. After a quick walk around – or should I say swim around, no I was right the first time – walk around, the referee – in some enlightened form of wisdom, decided to call the game off. Game postponed. No soccer today. We were particularly pleased because we all thought it was naff to play a team 3 times in one season. I mean, what's with that? 3 times in one year, really what is going on? And 8 games against Pembroke in one year! Seriously!

So, at half-time, after some pretty promising early moves, it ended up 0-0.

The second half prompted a change of venue (quite unusual in a game of soccer), with one old-timer - Leo - suggesting a counter meal at a pub would do the trick. And what a trick it did. Another old-timer - Tim - suggested the Belair Hotel as a possible venue, a pub that apparently had recently been done-up. Well, who were we to argue, so off most of us trouped to the Belair Hotel, known not only for it's glitzy cocktails and tapas menu but also for it's cunning ability to move location. Either that or previously-said old-timer Tim gave out cheekily-wrong directions. But he underestimated Chris – the coach, and Leo – definitely not the coach, as although both men were initially put off the scent, both eventually managed to make it to the correct venue in time.

But I digress, from what I really don't know. It was a great turn-up at the pub, although young Robert was surprisingly subbed at half-time. Joe too didn't make it. What with being 14 years old he had a curfew to stick too. Meanwhile, Tim's evil ploy of choosing a venue so high up in the hills that the Hong Kong brigade couldn't get there on their bikes worked a treat!

It's fair to say we all had a great lunch. The food was top-notch, the drink very runny, and to Bobby's delight it even had a pokies lounge. Bobby's joy was short-lived however once he realised that the poker room was to be shared with other patrons. It's not your room, Bobby. "What?" He promptly replied. If only Mikey Williams was there to record yet another question, but Mikey was not there because he doesn't drink. No sirree – not even orange juice. He's done pretty well to make it so far, especially in the tax game, with not even a glass of water!

Late in the second half, an interesting manouvre eventuated. A few of the guys (lead by young Pete A, who, having missed out on selection in recent weeks, was keen to make his mark) decided to try a different formation. 4 players switched over, moving away from the dining table, towards a pool table. Chris – the coach – seemed to take it all in his stride. "We did that move in the sixties", he said. "The problem is that it leaves the middle exposed. The last thing you want is the middle exposed – do you understand?". And he was right. Within minutes, one or two others moved over to the pool table as well, as if that plush blue felt was a mirage of hope in a land of postponed soccer. The middle was definately exposed.

The English lads, let's just call them English guy number 1 and English guy number 2, seemed to know how to play the game of pool. Austin, who was also still with us, could also hold a stick. Austin, of course, is American, and is definitely not Canadian. Pete had obviously spent too much time at a pool table in his youth. But Bobby, well, let's just say we hope he didn't spend too much time playing pool in his youth. He has a unique style, and despite it, managed to pot one or two balls.

Deep in the second half Leo just couldn't resist, so joined in and put in a few decent tackles. He moved around the table with such speed, bringing back memories of yester-year. Soon after that the referee blew his whistle. Game over. It was a great second half performance. It truly was. We were faultless at the back. The new system of 2-3-1-2-6-1 is definitely working, and the team spirit has never been higher. Graeme kept a clean sheet at the back, and up front we displayed measured, composed soccer. OK, I guess we could have troubled their keeper a bit more, but we were having such a good time at the pub, that we really didn't want to have to look up his address and abuse him from the car window.

LeoTop