AFA Cup Old Guildfordians IV v Old Challoners IV

Team: Peter, Nev, Les, Rick, Kenny, Will, John Greenwood, Gareth, Pete, John Woodbury, Simon
Subs; Ian, John Spicer

Score: 1:2
Scorers: Gareth

Hot day, new boots, new fresh faces and sad old men giving it 'just the one more season'; YES it's the start of the football season for Old Cs Fourth eleven.

We kicked off with a Cup game down in deepest Guildford, against a team who tried to intimidate us by warming up as a team, meanwhile we were busy introducing ourselves to new team members and catching up on summer events.

Having won the toss we found ourselves under pressure and took a while to get into our stride. New boys John Greenwood and Will tried to get a grip in midfield and feed the ball up to John and Simon. John Woodbury was the surprise package up front revisiting his glory days of fifteen years ago when, he assured us, he resembled Gary Lineker, the striker rather than the crisp eating media star.

The first test of the new team came after a through ball over the top found Les chasing down the Guildford forward into the penalty area and took both man and ball. Pete made himself look big in goal and the shot was sent high and wide over the bar. From this Old C's took heart and began to pass the ball around taking more control of the game. As the ball came out to Gareth he travelled into the Guildford half saw the keeper off his line and fired in a dipping 35 yard shot that beat the keeper and went in just under the bar. Chances then followed for the Fourths but we were unable to increase our lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Old Cs creating chances but unable to beat their keeper a second time. The highlight was a spectacular overhead kick from John Woodbury that was heading for the corner but was just tipped round by the keeper. Ian and John Spicer came on for Les and Pete. Unfortunately, with 20 minutes to go Old Cs famed levels of fitness deserted us and we were hit by a breakaway goal following a corner.

Worse was to follow as Guidlford began to push forward and create further chances. A cross from the right eluded Rick and with a faint header from their centre forward rolled gently towards goal, touched the post and just made it over the line. Despite Old Cs trying for the equaliser it was not to be and so we decided that for this season we would concentrate on the League.