Is your name Graham Poll  Southbank entertained Twyford in the Industrial Cup at Coley Park on Sunday, reward for the excellent win over Englefield a few weeks back. However, the performance and result were going to be different this time as the Jekyll and Hyde personality which has appeared in the team over the past few weeks showed up again. Following the gutsy draw at Cholsey two weeks ago, the Bank’s performances have been somewhat indifferent, partly down to an unsettled side which has had to deal with a number of injuries and absent players. This game was another one of those strange performances, a team which is capable of beating Englefield and returning from 2 nil down again the league leaders to draw perhaps seems to also have a motivation issue when playing against other teams. What ever the issue this must change if the team is to realize its potential of a top 4 finish this season, the manager is seriously concerned. With a number of key players injured including Hightower, Ollie, Benji and Mig the Southbank defence had an unusual look with Bryce and Donal who both had excellent games; taking up the central defensive partnership and Holton returning for his first start of the season for the 1st team, alongside Woodrow up top. Both teams started brightly and any thoughts that this may be an easy victory evaporated as the opposition quickly got stuck into the Bank and made a number of raids down the flanks. There neat interchanging passing meant the players found themselves chasing shadows and competing for second balls rather than dictating the play. To be far the 1st half was very even, the Bank had chances, the right side with Tully proving fruitful but a lack of delivery and movement was restricting the options as the team moved forward. However, there was another overriding issue which restricted both teams, the referee. Unknown to the 22 players on the pitch and I’m sure the man with his dog watching, the referee wanted to boss this game. Referee that’s fine that is his job, however by the end of the game 5 bookings and a sending off between both sides, seems to indicate an aggressive game, if not edgy game. Alas not this one, from the sidelines it looked like two committed football teams determined to win, not at all cost, but win nether the less. However, as the 1st half wore on the man in black seemed to be pull things up and frustrate the players with his approach and the half ending with no goals and clearly both teams with a ‘fight’ on their hands. A half-time team talk resulted in Hightower asking the Bank to continue their approach, stick together and believe in themselves. Perhaps the previous weeks’ result against Video had undermined their confidence but nether the less the result was done and they had to move on. The second half started in the same vein, with plenty of battle in the middle of the park and but little penetration going forward for either team. However just as you think extra time may well be on the cards, a goal comes along. A speculative ball on the flank wasn’t cleared properly by the Bank and the ball was retrieved by Twyford who moved it across the pitch. The right-sided midfielder burst through the defence and drove it high into the net to give them something to hang onto. Fifteen maybe 20 minutes were left, this game could be rescued but then the incident which buried the Bank. With another 50/50 ball to challenge for in the centre of the park, skipper Gale was harshly adjudged to have fouled one of their players. Accepting that the tackle was late, there was no maliciousness in the tackle, indeed the Twyford player skipped the challenge a stern talking too and last warning surely would have been sufficient. However, when commonsense was called having booked him in the first half, the referee ignored it, a second yellow; Gale was off, not before his gesticulation towards the referee earning him a straight red. Perhaps this was a tough call, however at that point in the game a last chance warning for the player surely would have been sufficient, nobody was injured; no player begged he take action, no common sense considered. It wasn’t to be and Hightower knew the game was up and replaced Tully with Mitra and went in search of a way back. Jason by now partnered by Donal in midfield were unable to find anything as the Twyford team strangled the game. In the dying minutes a corner was swung in which deflected off a Southbank defender into his own net, dead and buried!! At the end of the game, a dejected group of players, some angry, probably all frustrated came off the pitch, thinking they deserved better. Perhaps they did, perhaps the injuries didn’t help, the lack of penetration going forward certainly didn’t help but the result was done and the Bank are now left to focus on a league campaign which is seriously in danger of falling away. Riverside away this week is now a ‘must’ win, Hightower asks will his players please stand up.   Team: Howroyd, Haimes, Saunders, Roughnegn, Bellman (Price), Gale, Wagner, Allen, Holton, Tully (Mitra), Woodrow