Last Friday's narrow reverse to Caledonian Old Boys and victories for all the other play-off challengers meant Jiggle were now long outsiders to make one of the four Finals berths up for grabs in League A. Three wins out of three however could yet put the cat amongst the pigeons and it was up to Jiggle to put themselves in the box seat to pounce should one of the leading sides suffer a major end of season blow-out. The final three matches feature games against Underdogs, champions-elect White Knights and tonight's opposition Maidenbower Rejects. Jiggle had met Maidenbower once before, in a Broadbridge Heath friendly back in November 2001. That match ended in a 14-14 draw. What price a repeat tonight?

FC Jiggle 2 Maidenbower Rejects 0 (Stuart MacPherson 17 Sam Cohen 20)

A classy strike from Stuart MacPherson and a fine solo effort from Sam Cohen capped Jiggle's best display of the season and secured the third win of this New Year campaign.

This was just the kind of patient, passing performance Jiggle have been hunting for some time and should offer plenty of encouragement to keep the ball on the deck in the games to come. Good 5-a-side teams pass and move and tonight Jiggle did just that.

Tonight's starting five showed just the one change from the Caledonian game as Stuart MacPherson, back from Spain replaced Dave Carling who had a well-earned night off. Stu's return alongside David Leake allowed Andy Lee Chong to return to his favoured midfield slot. Leading scorer Sam Cohen continued up front. The Maidenbower side featured two of the faces who had played in the 14-14 friendly in 2001, including keeper Andy Hains.

Jiggle made a promising start. The Maidenbower keeper was immediately into the action as Sam almost found the finish to a fine jinking run, denying Jiggle's top scorer with a fine save high to his left.

The opening ten minutes were an even affair but by the end of the period Jiggle were beginning to take the upper hand courtesy of some good possession football and patient approach play.

The Maidenbower keeper was in good form tonight, Sam once more the man thwarted by another sharp stop on five minutes. Stu, looking bright on his return was also denied by the keeper who got down rapidly to get his body behind a well struck low drive at his near post.

Maidenbower's attack was led by a quick and tricky bald forward, not dissimilar in style to the Brazil Almighty frontman and he was the main danger to the Jiggle defence, particularly in the first half. The fact that despite looking lively he didn't manage a shot on target was testament to the excellent marking job being carried out by Dave Leake.

The half-time consensus was that a win was there for the taking as long as Jiggle kept passing and probing as they had in the closing stages of the first period.

The early signs were good, Sam warming the keeper's hands with an effort from distance and Andy firing wide from a free-kick after Sam had been clattered from behind.

Maidenbower weren't about to lie down and might have made more of a good couple of minutes pressure approaching the midway point of the half. A couple of shots zipped a few yards wide but Jiggle stood firm and Phil Laker in goal remained untested.

Jiggle's movement continued to be good and this was beginning to pay dividends in stretching the opposition. Till now Jiggle hadn't managed to find that killer ball to unlock the Maidenbower defence. It was an excellent move that finally created the golden chance. Andy found Sam, Sam flicked it through into the path of Stu who collected it in neatly his stride and drilled a fine finish past the advancing keeper.

Concentration was now the name of the game and Jiggle did well, seeing off the threat from a couple of corners. From the second of these corners deep in stoppage time, Dave Leake made a timely interception and squeezed the ball down the line to Sam. 'Just kick it anywhere Sam' Dave advised. Sam, surely one who never listened to his teacher at school, had other ideas, skinning two men down the line, drawing the keeper and disobediently slotting home his seventh goal of the season.

This was the final act of the match as whistle blower Roy signalled full-time on the restart. The third win of the New Year Fives and a most encouraging one. Passing football is the way ahead, and the way to build with the Summer Fives and the many summer events in mind.

So, Jiggle continue to have a very outside chance of gate-crashing the Finals Night party. The next encounter should be a real humdinger and they don't come any tougher than reigning Autumn champions and runaway League A leaders White Knights. But it's a must win game and Jiggle will be going for it and aiming to rise to the challenge!

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Stuart MacPherson, Andy Lee Chong, Sam Cohen.