There was an eerie hush, quite in keeping with Rememberance Day, across Christchurch Meadow as the mighty Bank players shuffled their way towards the pitch, the 0-5 drubbing they had received from today's opponents only a few short Sundays ago still fresh in their minds.

With Oz one of many missing it was left to joint manager and thoroughly great bloke Purser to deliver the team talk - quite an easy one as it turned out. The team virtually picked itself as there were so many call-offs so the greatest manager in the history of the reserves had an easy job on the day.

The Bank started in usual cavalier fashion, surging forward at every opportunity, with most things being created down the right hand side between Karl and the outstanding Fully. Welsh Steve and Persaud also had a firm grip in the middle of the park whilst Dave and Hanky were in no mood to concede any ground through the centre of the park. This was probably helped by a hugely impressive goalkeeping display with a new voice being able to harang and marshall the defence in front of him from the first minute.

Despite the godd start, it was with about half an hour gone when, against the run of play, Sourcenet struck first. Following a bit of dithering at the back the ball fell kindly to a Sourcenet player fully 25 yards out and his unstopable shot flew into the top corner leaving Luke without a hope.

The Bank responded quickly though, in no way wanting this match to turn into the same sort of debacle that it had the last time the two sides had crossed swords. Within two minutes a quick break down the left saw an exchange of passes culminated in Darrens near post cross being gleefully turned into the net by Malc for his 97th goal in the famous Blue & White hoops.

Southbank were now well on top and pushing for a second with Harvey in particular causing their defence all kinds of problems - but unfortunately the clock caught up and half-time came all too soon.

Manager Purser was now forced into a change as Welsh Steve who had earlier taken a knock was in no fit state to continue (especially after hearing the England v Wales rugby score) so he was replaced by Tappern who went to centreback alongside Dave with Hanky pushing up into midfield.

Sourcenet tried to drag themselves back into the game by bringing on the big Greek bloke who scored a hat-trick in the two sides last meeting. He initially did quite well and had a couple of decent efforts on goal, but the game remained quite a tight affair with Southbank marginally on top.

With just under half an hour remaining and with Steve the new boy flagging manager Purser made his last throw of the dice by replacing Steve with Guppy. Quite a gamble as this was a cup game with the possibility of extra time and no more subs to call on. Guppy went straight up front alongside Malc with Harvey being moved out to the left side of midfield - to his obvious delight (he straight away asked to be taken off - the thought of having to run a bit obviously too much for him).

Guppy made an immediate impact, by getting offside. Although in his defence the Sourcenet linesman was clearly on another planet and was making some bizarre decisions - which soon stopped when Purser went and stood in line with him !!!!

Southbank continued to raid forward and after a surging burst down the left (the weak side!!) A corner was won. Persaud the set piece expert strode forward and placed a pin-point precision pass onto the head of Malc who easily nodded the ball down into the path of Karl who showed no mercy in thumping the ball past the hapless Sourcenet custodian. Karls joy was unbounded, largely due to his goal meaning he now doesn't have to buy a jug of beer at the end of season bash !!

Sourcenet tried in vain for an equaliser, but Edward Woodward was nowhere to be seen. Each of their attacks simply crashed against the blue & white shore to be sent back whence it came.

After what seemed an eternity, the home referee blew the final whistle and there was much rejoicing all around. Southbank were through. Purser then made an emotional speech in the dressing room saying he was having to quit the managers role to take up a career in writing and journalism and thanked his players heartily for all their effort and resolve since he took over.

Then they went to the pub. Sourcenet 1 Southbank Res 2...............The end of an era and the start of a legend.