The weather seems to be saving it’s worst for the end of recent weeks and it chucked everything at us last weekend from driving rain to gale force winds. However, it was another payback day for the pitch drainage, and all 3 games were on at the Club and surprisingly good football was played on a surprisingly good surface.

The 1sts laid on a great Cup performance to impress the watching ‘seniors’ who had gathered for Dave Allen’s 60th. They saw good football in gale force winds, which can so often reduce games to a farce. Both teams tried to use the conditions to their advantage keeping the ball on the ground until they had a chance of a downwind shot or a curling cross.

The game was probably won in the first half when EBOG worked the ball patiently against the wind up to Laney on the top wing. Rob cut in on to his right foot and swept the ball home for a priceless lead just before half time.

With the wind behind them, EBOG never looked like losing and one of Steve Weldon’s many accurate free kicks caused mayhem in their defence and Laney spun and rifled home a pure opportunist goal. It remained for Bullet to justify his nickname by stroking home a free kick for the third.

Although our forwards were not on the scoresheet this week they worked unselfishly to make targets and won the free kicks that finally won the game. In particular, Rob Harris was on the end of at least a dozen fouls, but he just got up, dusted himself down, and got on with the game.

If we can maintain this mature temperament and the much improved defending, then silverware is not out of the question yet despite the poor start. Norsemen are top of the table but were made to look quite ordinary by a side which has abundant talent and team spirit.

The 2nds were very unlucky to come away with nothing from 3rd placed Nottsborough. They were 1-0 up when, of all people, Tom Nelson missed a penalty! Dave Goymer got the longest successful shot of the season at an estimated 60 yards!

The 3rds set about their chase of the top two with an emphatic win at Crouch End with Captain Lee Sterry showing his 3rd place on the Goalscorers list is no fluke!

The 4ths were leading against the top of the table side but, although they should have won, a point is no disaster.

The 5ths were also ahead but let it slip against a strong Parmiterians side and went out of the OB Cup.

The 6ths were one of the many teams to suffer from the inclement weather and, far more surprisingly, the 7ths whose game was cancelled on Friday morning at Gunnersbury Park, which is almost never unplayable! I wonder if all the games were called off there?

The 8ths had another frustrating day against a strong Southgate Olympic side.

The Vets played at the Club on Sunday despite more overnight rain. They moved on to the next round of the LOB Cup thanks to late winner from Gary O’Brien making a welcome return to EBOG after too long away. It looks like they’ll be meeting the winners of William Fitt and Hale End in the quarter-final.

For more information about our football club, please visit us at www.ebog.co.uk.