A lovely morning at Saltford for a really enjoyable game where the final score was harsh on Redstar. A keenly contested first half was short on chances. A good move down the left for Decliners saw Toby net from close range and then Gaffers hit a once in a century wonder goal from the centre circle, but there wasn’t a lot to choose between the two teams despite the 2-0 HT scoreline. Redstar came out strong after the break and missed a couple of presentable chances, before a great move down the right ended wth Lee driving a finish into the bottom corner for the crucial third goal. It was an uphill battle for Redstar for the last 20, and the large Decliners squad meant there were plenty of fresh legs for the final period of the game. Toby completed the perfect left foot/right foot/header hat trick and Russ finished things off with a great first time finish from just inside the box. Redstar battled till the end and ought to have scored at least one, but the final finish eluded them. Top game, great pitch and nice to have a few beers after in the clubhouse after. A great advert for vets football.

Red Star Report:

A great stride forward in the emergence of a Red Star 50s side, but conceding 6 is never fun (unless we’d scored 7). I’m still seeing that second ‘once a century wonder goal’ coming out of the sky at me like a dinosaur killing asteroid (though it would obviously have been better if it it had actually hit me, rather than the back of the net). Thanks for everyone that turned out and to the 45s that responded to the call and thanks to Decliners for their part in our historic first ever home game. Things can only go up from here.