Having conceded their unbeaten start to 2004 with a poor display against Horley Boyz last Friday, the Jigglers needed a good showing to bounce back as the New Year Fives entered their second half this evening. The team standing between Jiggle and a return to winning ways was Goodfellas, a side one place and one point below Jiggle in the mid-season standings. Jiggle's chief scout noted numerous changes in the opposition line-up tonight so an interesting test was lay ahead.

Goodfellas 0 FC Jiggle 1 (MacPherson pen 6)

The combination of Jiggle's first penalty in 93 league games and a 50th clean sheet proved decisive as a hard-fought second win of the New Year Fives was secured against Goodfellas.

It was arguably the classic counter-attacking win, by no means pretty but tonight very effective. On the balance of play, Goodfellas will feel hard done by but Jiggle defended very well, everyone stuck to the task for the full twenty minutes and reaped the reward with three points.

After the subdued showing against Horley Boyz a committed, on the ball performance was needed tonight. For the first time this New Year prospects were boosted by the availability of all six fit members of the squad, Stuart MacPherson returning to join the five on duty last week. Stu was back in the starting line-up, partnering David Leake at the back, while Nick Rapley took this week's sub duties. Dave Carling and Sam Cohen who both had good run-outs for Enterprise Eagles at Dave's BT tournament last night linked up in attack. Sam, after missing a last-gasp penalty in Eagles semi-final defeat handed penalty duties to Stu before tonight's match. Still, that wouldn't matter, Jiggle hadn't got a penalty in two and a half years, so we were hardly likely to get one tonight, right?

Before kick-off Jiggle's chief scout noted a number of changes to the Goodfellas five which seemed to feature a possible but unconfirmed Caledonian connection this evening.

The early combat was fiercely competitive. Jiggle twice conceded free-kicks in the vicinity of the box but the danger passed without alarm.

The match had seen little in the way of goalmouth activity until it sprung into life on six minutes. A Jiggle throw deep in opposition territory drifted across the box and was hacked away by a defender. The defender however in the view of Roy had made the clearance from inside his area. Debut penalty-taker Stu stepped up to confidently put Jiggle into a one-nil lead.

After the indifferent form of late the goal gave everyone a boost and as Goodfellas began to press for an equaliser Jiggle rose to the task in hand. Sam drove wide a half chance to increase the lead before the opposition carved their first good opening of the game as an attacker created himself the yard of space needed to force Phil into a a sharp tip over the bar. The Jiggle keeper then showed impeccable judgement as he 'allowed' a shot from distance to clip the post on its way behind (covered all the way. Erm..Ed).

Jiggle were defending well and as the game wore on the contributions of Dave Carling and Sam Cohen tracking the runners became more and more invaluable. Dave in particular made three outstanding runs to take the ball off the toe of opposition strikers just as they were about to shoot.

Phil was on his toes to turn a shot behind soon after the break as Goodfellas looked the up the tempo but the excellent defending saw that this was the keeper's final strenous activity of the match.

Midway through the second period and the lead was almost doubled as the best counter of the night ended with Sam playing in Stu to bring a sharp close-range block from the Goodfellas keeper. At the other end Goodfellas were still being frustrated and as the shots began to come from more optimistic distances the feeling of a job well done began to grow.

The battling spirit was typified in the closing minutes with Sam making a tremendous block to ensure no further threat could be posed to the Jiggle goal. Soon after Roy blew the final whistle and the Jigglers had secured a very well-earned three points.

This was an excellent way to bounce back from the Horley reverse, with Jiggle's battling qualities shining through even if flowing football was in limited supply. It's important to grind it out when not in fantastic form and tonight that was definitely the order of the day. This performance sets Jiggle up nicely for a pop at one of the division's leading sides when high-flying Brazil Almighty provide the opposition next Friday night. The Jigglers will be gunning for for an upset!

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Stuart MacPherson, Dave Carling, Sam Cohen. Sub. Nick Rapley (unused)