Player/Manager Marc Osborne is now 4/7 on with the bookies to be the first managerial casualty of the season after another embarrassing defeat at the hands of league leaders Sourcenet Solutions.

At the start of the week things had looked more positive with players returning to the squad after missing the first round cup defeat at Deportivo.  Unfortunately, other players dropped put due to other commitments and injuries.  This reduced the squad to its bare bones for the second week in a row.   Charlie Cook was welcomed back into the squad and handed the number 1 jersey (well he would have been if it wasn't missing from the kit bag!) as he was handed the unenviable task of replacing Oz in goal.  Ben Neo also made a welcomed return after work commitments had kept him out for the previous 3 weeks.  Oz received another boost when Dave Rogers confirmed his availability by text at 5.30am Sunday morning!  In his managers amazement he was worried big Dave was out all night partying but thankfully he was picking someone up from the airport!

With no recognised strikers in the squad (Malcolm ‘Viduka’ Everest was missing his first match in 2 years due to water works problems ?? and Woodrow had received a long overdue call back to the first squad) Oz decided to tinker with system and switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Neo and Fully as wingbacks and Oz himself playing in the ‘hole’ behind the front 2 (must’ve been a big whole!  – Ed).  

A good start was needed to boost confidence after recent results ....... Alas 18 seconds into the game the ‘Bank's defence was breeched for the first time and Sourcenet were gifted a 1 - 0 headstart. Southbank then got a strangle hold on the game with Welsh Steve and Andy Persaud putting in some great challenges in midfield while Oz and Neo were linked up well well down the right wing and Harvey and Guppy tried their best to create an opening up front.  With about 25 minutes gone left wing back Steve Fullbrook claimed that the system was not working. This was a strange comment as, despite the lack goals, Southbanks new formation had helped them to dominate possession and territory.  It turned out Fully was Fu**ed and didn’t fancy the extra running his new role involved!  

Then disaster struck.  The killer goal came with 10 minutes left before half time.  Sourcenet counter attacked against the run of play and finished of in style leaving Charlie no chance in goal to make it an undeserved 2-0 at half time. Although it was a positive first half display, full of good football, there was no end result and somehow the ‘Bank found themselves 2-0 down.

The second half started well for Southbank as they started to knock the ball about and dominate possession again.  Once again they were getting stuck into challenges and winning the battle in the middle.  As the game progressed the Southbank wing backs became more and more tired and the 3 central defenders come under increasing pressure.  Eventually the ‘Bank conceded the 3^rd goal and then this was quickly followed by the fourth! 

With 10 minutes to go frustration was now setting in.  The milky bar kid referee was failing to spot the more blatant offences against the ‘Bank and this led to a burst of abuse from the foul mouthed Harvey (perhaps he forgot where he was and abused the ref like it was a fruit machine who’d taken his last 20p).  Harvey was dismissed for this ‘out of character’ out burst but to the Southbank players credit they kept trying to play football but unfortunately they never really looked like scoring.  The closest Southbank came to scoring was when centre back Hanky had a late surge in to the box.  When he was obstructed everyone thought penalty, but once again the milky bar kid couldn't get his whistle to his mouth because of the nice set of braces he was

wearing!

The fifth and final goal was conceded late on with the 10 men of Southbank now being stretched.

Overall the manager was pleased with the commitment on the pitch and the quality of football being played.  When pushed by Sky Sports a somber Oz said "we need to get back to basics, earn the right to play football, win our personal battles and the results should come."

Team: Cook, Neo (Rackley), Fullbrook, Rodgers, Tappern, Hankinson, Bigham, Persaud, Osbourne, Harvey, Guppy