Southbank shot up to second place in Division One West thanks to a sound defensive display and some clinical finishing in front of goal.

With the disappointing attitude and performance in the Berks & Bucks Cup game against Thames Valley Tornadoes Holton demanded more commitment and better preparation for this game against his former club, Associated Asphalt. His squad responded in the right manner and all turned up on time and in the right frame of mind. This resulted in a much improved attitude and no repeat of the shambolic start to the previous game.

With Holton welcoming back Gale, Towner, Price and Fitzpatrick to the starting line-up the side had a better balance and looked a lot more organised. The bench also looked particularly strong with Broomfield, Woodrow (recalled from the reserve team), Bellman and Player/Manager Holton (dropped in favour of last weeks goalscorer Gale) all itching to get on.

The game started well for Southbank as they took control early on. The back four looked solid and comfortably handled the AA's forwards, who were full of running and linked up well. However, the breakthrough was difficult to come by. Nads and Gale were being frustrated by the flag happy linesman and as the ref was trying to set a new world record for blows of a whistle in 90 minutes he didn't really help them out. Brown had a easy chance to put Southbank ahead when Gale released Thurgood down the right. Thurgood ran in on goal and then unselfishly (no bottle in front of goal?) squared the ball to Browner who had a simple tap in 10 yards out. Somehow, with the keeper beaten, Brown scuffed his shot wide of the goal to make an early claim for miss of the season. Memories of Bishopswood away last year! Ironically, the opening goal finally came as AA's where having their best spell of the game. A quick break forward saw Nads manage to wriggle through the AA's defence in the box and he hammered a shot past the keeper from a narrow angle.

The first half came to an end 2 minutes early as an AA's midfielder fell awkwardly and injured his knee. An ambulance was called and half time taken whilst they "dealt" with his injury. As it turned out they said he wasn't bad enough to warrant a trip in an ambulance and he was better off iceing it and going to the doctors in the morning! Thank you the NHS.

Despite this distraction Southbank came out for the second half determined to stretch their lead and keep a clean sheet, their first of the season. This is exactly what they did as 2 Gale strikes and one from substitute Steve Woodrow, on his return to first team action, sealed a 4-0 victory. Woodrow had replaced the impressive Nads shortly after half time and showed his ability upfront with some great link up play and non stop movement. It was Woodrow who set up the second goal, when, on the hour, he sent Gale away one on one with the keeper. The General maintained his goal a game record by calmly slotting past the advancing keeper and into the corner of the net. Gale then doubled his tally with a controversial free kick. After the impressive Hightower had flattened an AA's defender when attacking a corner, the ref awarded a free kick on the edge of the area for dissent. As AA's organised a wall the ref confirmed it was direct and Gale passed the ball in to the net to the amazement, and fury, of the AA's keeper. He was convinced the ref had confirmed it was INdirect and that the goal should not have stood (for the record the keeper was right and it should have been indirect!). Woodrow then completed the scoring himself when Danny Fiztpatrick sent him away with a clearing header from deep inside his own half. This cleared the AA's defence and Woodrow was away. He finished with a deft lob over the keeper and celebrated by kissing his Southbank badge to mark a successful return to the first team!

This was a much improved performance and a great result. Although the strikers will claim the glory the clean sheet was a just reward for a determined and accomplished performance from the back four. Spokesy, who was playing despite an injury picked up on Saturday, didn't have a save to make and this was testament to an outstanding defensive display from the back four AND the whole team, who worked very hard against a fit side full of running. Manager Holton was particularly pleased the attitude and commitment his side showed. "Turning up early after the result last week showed in our performance." Holton also paid tribute to the spirit in the squad and said "the best thing about yesterday for me was the attitude of the 6 subs that either came off or on. This is a strong squad and everyone deserves to be playing, but unfortunately I can only pick 11 to start. I'm very pleased to say we're playing as a squad and as a team and that has made a big difference."

.