After an opening month of unspectacular results it was time to push on for the leading sides in League A. Two of those, who have started reasonably well met tonight as Jiggle, with six points from twelve and unbeaten took on Horley Boyz, the side a place and a point in front of them. While it's too early to make predictions about play-off challenges tonight's opposition had shown enough in recent weeks to suggest they would be one of Jiggle's main rivals for a Finals berth. This evening's match would then give a good indication of who was better equipped to make the leap to the last eight...

Horley Boyz 2 FC Jiggle 0

Jiggle slipped to their first defeat of 2004 after a dismal display saw third-placed Horley Boyz cruise to a well-deserved victory. It is still early days but with the big name teams still to play and now a four point gap to tonight's opposition the Jigglers may well have to wait another season for a crack at the elusive knockout stages.

Put simply, Jiggle got everything that was deserved tonight - nothing. Horley Boyz played us off the pitch and the only surprise was the breakthrough took 15 minutes in coming. It was a defeat that has probably been coming after some sluggish performances and should give everyone the wake up call needed to get the ball back on the deck and play football once more in the weeks to come.

Jiggle had a squad of six for this one with Nick Rapley rejoining the squad in place of Chris Laker, who had the good fortune to be 200 miles away from tonight's game, back at uni in Lincoln. Stuart MacPherson's early withdrawal due to work commitments meant David Leake and Nick Rapley, making his first start of the year joined forces at the back. Dave Carling and Sam Cohen continued up front.

From the start Jiggle appeared strangely subdued and Horley weren't slow to seize the initiative. But Jiggle's early defending was tight and kept opposition sights of the target to the minimum.

The problem was hanging onto the ball. Sam toiled a lonely line up front but found support slow to arrive as Jiggle were penned in the defensive third. It was no coincidence that Jiggle's best moments came when Nick got forward to provide an extra man in attack but this was too infrequent to cause Horley any real alarm.

The game reached half-time with Jiggle showing signs of improvement in the minute or two before the break. In fact the best chance of the half came Jiggle's way when Nick flicked into the path of Sam who held off a defender to drive half a yard wide of the far post. Horley's best effort was a shot from two yards outside that sailed high and wide. Crucially though Horley were dominating possession which would surely lead to chances if it continued.

Jiggle made a half-time switch as Nick pushed into attack and Dave Carling moved to the back. With hindsight the gamble didn't come off and as the second period wore on Horley's dominance began to tell.

Shooting opportunities, in short supply in the first half began to become more plentiful and Jiggle were served a warning within seconds of the restart as a defender was given room to roam forward unchallenged and find his attacking teammate who's toe-poke went well wide.

The pressure built and the opener seemed a matter of time. Finally, a Horley man picked it up in midfield, Jiggle were outnumbered at the back, creating the chance for a centrally placed forward to plant a shot via the keeper's hand inside the right post. Symbolic of the night it was a shot that though well placed was on another night Phil might have saved.

A comeback was unlikely and Jiggle didn't threaten one. The second came three minutes from time as an unmarked forward completed a neat counter attack with an unerring finish low to the left corner.

The three points consolidated Horley's position in third, and good up and coming side as they are they should have the talent to make one of the top four spots. This reverse was disappointing as Horley wanted it more but it is also obvious the Jigglers are struggling for a bit of form of late, the tell tale sign of this is a tendency to play too many long balls. Part of this can be attributed to the rustiness than comes from playing only 20 minutes a week. Valuable practice will no doubt help perk the side up when it's back on the agenda.

Still, setbacks happen and it should be remembered that this was only Jiggle's 6th defeat in 27 games. A run that everyone should be proud of. There is the talent in this squad to bounce straight back. For next week, let's make this a turning point and get the ball on the deck and play the football we are well capable of!

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Nick Rapley, Dave Carling, Sam Cohen.