Southbank were virtually at full strength for this John Lusted Cup quarter-final with the only absentees Neil Hankinson and John Pugh.  Manager Malcolm Everest was forced into some tough changes from the side that lost to Riverside the previous week as he didn’t want players carrying potential hamstring injuries on the bench.  Graeme Storey, Dave Guppy and Everest himself were the three unfortunate players to find themselves picking splinters from their backside.

After a stirring team talk, with the absence of the Dambusters music the only thing keeping tears from the players eyes, Southbank started the game like a train.  Good shutting down led to the first goal on 2 minutes when the Gunners’ keeper scuffed a clearance to Steve Woodrow who looped a shot first time back over the keeper’s head and into the net.

Southbank didn’t relax the pressure and were rewarded with a second goal on 15 minutes.  Paul Towner won the ball with a foul in midfield but the ball broke to a Gunners player so the ref played an advantage.  Southbank immediately won the ball back and slotted the ball through to Andy Persaud who tucked the ball under the keeper to make it 2 – 0 despite the Gunners’ protests.

Southbank had other chances to increase the lead with Ben Neo, Paul Towner and Karl Lobato coming close before Woodrow made it 3-0 just before the break with a rasping volley from twelve yards.

At the other end Harvey was sober and looking very secure in goal whilst the back four in front of him were winning everything to limit Gunners to half chances from distance.

At half time Andy Persaud came off after picking up a knock and was replaced by Malcolm Everest.  Karl Lobato moved to the middle of the park and Charlie Cook moved to the right.

The substitution didn’t seem to disrupt Southbank as they continued to look the more dangerous side.  On 55 minutes they made it 4-0 when a deep cross from Woodrow on the left was met on the volley from Everest and the ball crept in off the post.

Two more substitutions followed with Storey replacing Cook and Guppy replacing Neo but the pattern of play remained the same.  Good Southbank defending restricted Gunners to half chances from distance whilst Southbank always looked capable of adding more goals.

The fifth and final goal came on 80 minutes when Graeme Storey rose to flick in a Towner corner.

This was Southbank’s best performance of the season with particularly good displays from Harvey, Fullbrook, Tappern, Fitzpatrick, Edwards, Lobato, Neo, Towner, Persaud, Woodrow, Cook, Storey, Guppy and Everest.

Team: Harvey, Fullbrook, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, Tappern, Lobato (Guppy), Towner, Persuad (Everest), Neo (Storey), Woodrow, Cook