Looking back the Bank has endured a roller coaster of a season. A new 1^st team started brightly in August and found 3 successive wins before a battling defeat to eventual champions Cholsey changed everything. From here the 1^st team never found any rhythm and defeat followed a win or one of 4 draws which considering the team’s ambitions were too many. On the plus side the team had a number of new faces introduced to the squad including Jason McKie (Archie), Ryan Derman and James Fletcher during the season. Charlie Cook also made the breakthrough into the 1^st team in the autumn and the new players from the summer of Wagner, Roughnegn and Williams settled in well to provide solid seasons. Bradbury, Woodrow, skipper Gale and the resurgent Bellman added their experience next to Hightower in his debut season as manager and he thanks them for their efforts.

The Reserves had the opposite, starting slowly with 4 defeats in the first 5 games but in October came their high points with 4 victories on the bounce. From here sadly results slid and Scouse did exceptionally well to hold things together as the reserves would only win 1 more game during the entire season and finish a disappointing 7^th. Stalwarts like Persaud, Towner, Evans and Holton helped the team immensely along with younger ones like Mahoney. New players tried to settle and players like Mark Maskell and Karl Boezalt and Ali MacArthur had excellent first seasons.

Both teams were not helped by other team’s decisions to pull out during the season. The Reserves suffered the most with only 8 teams finishing the season when it started with 12. Victories for both teams were lost as teams folded. The 1^st Team losing 6 points in January after Black Boy folded despite completing 50% of their games. These lost 6 points really didn’t help during the winter months on the promotion front. The Reserves suffered similar fates with wins being chalked off the board and teams below them dropping out.

So as the season has drawn to a close there has been time for reflection. Yes the teams under-achieved especially the 1^st team, considering the talent on display. However, too much pressure was placed on the team early on and commitment lacked at key points in the spring for both teams and really with the exception of Cholsey, Video and Englefield only County Arms sit where Southbank 1^st should have been. So perhaps B+ is the mark.

Draws against Riverside, Kidmore and Mapleduram extended the gap from the top 4 as did defeats to Trentionians, Mapledurram and County Arms. Next season the consistency must improve. However, high points included beating Englefield in the cup with the most complete display, coming from 2 nil down against Cholsey to claim a 3 all draw and taking Video so close when having been 3 nil down and getting to 3-2 they let this slip to 5-2 defeat.

Scouse will feel he should have achieved more with his Reserve team and perhaps he should have but with such weak numbers during the winter months he did excellently well to maintain the ship and bring the reserves home. For another debut season as manager and Club Secretary you did well and the club appreciates your efforts. Thanks also go to Andy Persaud and Paul Towner for their efforts behind the scenes during the year.

Hope springs eternal for both teams next season, providing the same players come back for more and new recruits can be found you never know, football is a funny old game!!!

Thanks for you efforts lads

Hightower & Scouse

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