A chaotic morning ended in disappointment for Decliners. After the caretaker failed to show at Brislington School, a frantic search for an alternate pitch saw the game relocated to BAWA. Both teams lost a couple of players as a result and in the end this proved to be crucial. When the game kicked off Decliners took the lead after five minutes, a superb lofted finish from Jonny Temps after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area. Chew began with only ten, borrowing a  Decliner to start, but mid way through the first half their cavalry arrived with a couple of quality players from the younger age of the spectrum joining the fray. Nevertheless Decliners were on top, hitting the bar from a great JT strike, before Toby unfeasibly missed a great chance after a poor kick from the keeper. The Chew striker pulled a muscle and had to go in goal and this seemed to be the key to the second half change. The game remained even but Chew were growing in confidence and the pace they were able to deploy up front became a threat. They equalized from a  good through ball which the pacy striker latched on to and finished well. With five minutes to go Decliners failed to clear a corner and the ball was tucked in flowing a scramble for the Chew winner. It was an effort to get the game on, but a good contest in the sunshine.

A good game at BAWA between two well matched teams. The hard and bouncy pitch meant this wasn’t the highest quality game, but the endeavor from both sides was there throughout. A first half of few chances saw Decliners take their’s when Ross slotted in at the far post, while RedStar missed, when the striker was through one on one but surprisingly opted to try and square it instead of shooting. 1-0 HT. The next goal was always going to be crucial and after a period where RedStar dominated, Emu came up with an unlikely worldie from outside the box. He was only playing up front to keep him out of harm’s way as he recovers from injury, or was it a stroke of managerial genius? Let the pundits decide! That goal was the clincher and Decliners settled into the game at last. Ross added a third from JT’s cross. Both sides had further opportunities but final score was 3-0. Always a pleasure to play RedStar, see you in Belgium!