LMB regained that winning feeling with a confident mauling of league debutants Sporting Beerguts (I have no idea what happened to Ian Sheffield!) After an extremely edgy opening ten minutes, with LMB dominating possession but creating very little, it only took a further ten minutes of ruthless finishing for them to effectively kill off the game. Phil got the ball rolling after ramming away a neat pass from Pete, before the Park Rock Gang combined as an unmarked Brett calmly side-footed home an inviting pass from Birthday Boy SuBo who was surrounded by all their defenders. Phil pounced on a defensive error to add the third, before Patto claimed a 3 minute hat-trick, combining well with Marmite for the first and then producing two uncharacteristic solo efforts, twisting past static defenders and finishing confidently, to give LMB a half-time 6-0 lead.
Despite a momentary lapse in the opening minute of the second half, in which Sporting intercepted a SuBo pass and got a goal back off the boards, the rest of the half was one-way traffic as LMB produced a dizzying assortment of fine finishes against an opposition who were big on physical strength but short on ideas (while Pete saw one of their players throwing up!) SuBo made amends for his earlier error with a superb long-range curler, before Patto and Marmite combined to give Brocky a simple tap-in, who then set up Pete for the ninth with a thunder-strike from long range. The final 10 minutes saw LMB notch up 7 more goals, as SuBo produced a neat finish, before Brett teed up Pete for a long-range screamer that nestled in the far corner! Patto claimed a nonchalant half-volley of his own that gave the keeper no chance, before setting up Brett from a quick free-kick that was sledged into the top right bin from a ridiculous angle. Brocky, Patto and Phil completed the rout after some mesmeric and unselfish team play that left the opposition gagging for air. Patto sportingly gave Pete the final 3 minutes to get his hat-trick, but the Geordie Chap was denied on numerous occasions by the psycho bald keeper who decided at that moment to finally turn up!
Lots of contenders for Man of the Match, with an impressive Griff holding onto the ball well whenever he was called into action and his positioning was excellent, while everyone else delivered some admirable movement, uncomplicated passing and finishing. However, the privileged winner was Marmite, who produced one of his finest LMB performances to set up or had a part in a handful of goals, and kept running and hustling (and sliding into boards) for the entire match!
