Sick as a parrot Southbank suffered there the first consecutive league defeat of the season to all but extinguish any ambitions of promotion this season. Again, a lack of resources ultimately told as 3 late goals all in the last 7 minutes of the second half saw a creditable draw slip away and an ‘embarrassing’ defeat replace it. With no fewer than five first team regulars missing with Benji (away), Woodrow and Gale injured and Fletch and Donal unavailable, Hightower was down to the bare 12 players. Certainly not what was required and especially not after the defeat against now top of the table County Arms two weeks previously. Having snatched Mig and Raph from the reserves team and able to welcome back Ollie Bradbury to the heart of the defence, he’s been missed the past weeks The Bank confidently set about Englefield and were shocked when with Englefield’s first shot scored. A crossed wasn’t cleared properly and the ball was rifled home from 20 yards out to secure them the lead. However, if nothing this young Bank team this year doesn’t become easily fazed and responded with the best passage of play during the next 20 minutes. Almost immediately the impressive Archie drove at the heart of Englefield’s defence before planting a left foot shot low into the bottom corner to equalise 1-1. The Bank weren’t finished here and the impressive Bellman, restored to his best position left-midfield drove home the second to enable the Bank to take the lead for the first time and seize the initiative from their opponents. However, perhaps here the advantage was not pressed home. With Archie, Jason and the impressive Haimes working hard in the centre of the park, opportunities came and went. Englefield even had to replace their keeper with their centre-half. The closest the Bank came to extending their lead resulted in a scramble almost on the goal line but the ball was cleared. With 12 men it’s always going to be difficult, especially against the better teams in the league and the second half saw the 3 Englefield subs finally pay dividends. In defence of the Bank the wind did pick up second half and made it very difficult but at times defensively they looked assured with Charlie Cook, now establishing himself in the 1st team keeper not having to make too many saves. However with 20 minutes of the second half gone a corner was knocked in, bread and butter for Cook, but it was spilled and Englefield, perhaps luckily capitalised and evened the match. However, even then nothing much changed until the last 7 minutes when nothing short of disaster struck. With 7 minutes to go, a clearance out of defence was knocked straight back in and somehow, no off-side given the Englefield striker out jumped Cook to give Englefield the lead and really knock the stuffing out of Southbank. A goalkeeping error sure, Charlie will make mistakes it’s the position he plays but he’ll bounce back stronger for his mistake and still most importantly has the backing of the manager and team-mates. From here Southbank capitulated and with it any chance of a top 3 finish. Hightower was not a happy man and learnt a harsh management lesson, as two more soft goals rubbed salt into the wounds and left his team dejected and down. Individuals played well, they know who they were but collectively we did not, this must change. Englefield know they were fortunate and should also realise that this luck will run out soon. Southbank’s young guns will learn and the reinforcements will be back. Hightower now hopes his team are hurt by this defeat. If defeat doesn’t hurt in sport then there’s something quite literally wrong with them. A response is expected against IBIS in the next game, nothing else will do. As a famous boxer once said Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. ~ Muhammad Ali, American Boxer Hightower has one question to his players. Do you have that?   Team: Cook, Gull, Frade, Bradbury, Price, Allen (Ragaboo), Wagner, Haimes, Bellman, Tully, McKie