Barely has the turkey clucked its final cluck and the dust settled on grannies lovely new slippers she got you for Christmas and 5-a-side football is back on centre stage. Tonight saw the opening night of the first competition of the year - New Year Fives 2004. It is Jiggle's third New Year campaign and to date it's not a competition in which they've done themselves justice. Time to change that this time around. An interesting first game awaited a hastily restructured Jiggle side, stung by the unavailability of five players for the big kick-off. Tonight's opposition were The Whisky Chasers. A new name for Jiggle followers, tonight's clash was a step into the unknown....

FC Jiggle 2 The Whisky Chasers 2 (Sam Cohen 1,8)

The Jigglers kicked off the campaign with a creditable point but will be disappointed to throw it away after Sam Cohen's double had given them a two-goal cushion at the break. It was hard on Jiggle who had fought hard to protect the advantage in the face of the lively newcomers and doubly cruel as the equaliser came deep, deep into stoppage time and from a counter-attack that was the direct result of a Jon Hawtin shot which rebounded back into play off the foot of the post. Ironically if Jon had put a crap finish on the railway line that might have been it but the counter was slick, precise and the point was the least Whisky Chasers deserved.

Early signs are it could again be a tight league with the first five games tonight all drawn and having seen a few games Jiggle should have nothing to fear from any of the sides involved. This may eventually turn out to be a point gained as Whisky Chasers should cause other sides plenty of problems if they can tighten up at the back.

Tonight's line-up had a nostalgic feel to it and despite having five players missing it is ironic that this was the most experienced Jiggle side to take to the field to date, featuring all four of the club's most capped players. Tonight's five included Jon Hawtin, who did us a big favour stepping into the side having hung up his 5-a-side boots little over three weeks ago (thanks Jon much appreciated) and Chris Laker who on his Christmas vacation from Lincoln University had been quoted odds of 50-1 by Phil that he would get a start in his six weeks back. (Fortunately I'm not a bookie or I would be skinter than I already am - Ed) Chris was re-united with David Leake at the back while Jon partnered the ageing Sam Cohen who shook off arthritis, smallpox and yellow fever to start up front.

If a cagey opening was expected from two sides unfamiliar with the others strengths it certainly didn't happen. Jiggle were straight on the offensive and when the ball broke to Sam on the edge of the box his scorching first time left-footer gave the stunned keeper no chance. A brilliant strike and a brilliant start.

As the game settled down it became clear that Chasers were a more than handy side, particularly in attack and that Sam's opener was unlikely to be the last goal of the game. A good spell of pressure brought the first save from Phil at his near post on four minutes and this was followed up by a good double-block two minutes later.

In between Chasers tidy build-ups Jiggle were creating good positions on the counter-attack and Chris Laker was unlucky to see his attempt to release Jon Hawtin nipped in the bud by the faintest clip off a defender's shin.

The two-time Jiggle Player of the Year wasn't about to be denied his assist, at the heart of the build-up as the Jigglers increased their advantage with eight minutes played. A ball from the back found Sam, he laid it off to Chris who played the first time pass between two defenders into Sam's path. The keeper got there first but could only fumble it into the path of the Jiggle attacker who made no mistake with a cracking shot which found the net of the underside of the bar.

Chasers were likely scratching their heads as to how they were two down but it almost got worse for them on the stroke of half-time as Jon raced in behind the defence but saw his shot drift wide of the far post.

The re-shaped Jiggle line-up was well covered at the back and well covered up front but was definitely lacking a midfield ball-winner so while a two-goal advantage at the break was excellent it was by no means game over.

It required a watchful period of consolidation after the break and this was accomplished with Chasers unable to make some very good positions count thanks to some committed and often last-ditch defending.

Jon saw another effort well smothered by the keeper but Jiggle were being continually stretched at the back. Finally the pressure told as Chasers finally found the finish to a swift counter-attack with a left-foot shot into the bottom corner from close range with four minutes still to play.

2-0 was a relatively comfortable cushion but 2-1 was a lot tighter. Ironically Jiggle looked capable of seeing it out when getting men behind the ball but more vulnerable when they did advance forward looking to kill the game off.

With 20 minutes well on the clock it looked like the win was going to be Jiggle's. Even better it looked like 3-1 when Jon did brilliantly to disposess the last defender. Jon advanced on goal but agonisingly saw his low shot rebound back off the near post.

Ironically if it had been a crap finish onto the railway line or into the Hawth car park Terry might have blown his final whistle. As it was the ball rebounded back into play, Chasers took advantage of Jiggle being caught upfield and worked room for an attacker who made no mistake to find the bottom corner.

As sure as night follows day Terry blew almost straight from kick-off to end what for the neutral would have been a highly entertaining game. From a Jiggle perspective it's disappointing to let it slip at the end having defended pretty well but it could turn out to be a point gained after a bit of a rusty performance against a very lively new team. The highlight of the night was Sam's clinical finishing and if he can keep that up Jiggle won't be short of goals this season with Stu, Nick and Dave Carling's firepower still to return. Interestingly, the first five games in League A tonight all finished in draws suggesting a tight, keenly contested ten weeks are to follow. Jiggle will be chasing that first win of 2004 when they meet another new name in Broadfield 5 next Friday at 7pm.

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Chris Laker, Jon Hawtin, Sam Cohen.