A cagey start, what with the new faces settling in, but Jonny�s opener solidified the resolve to extract every last morsel from the �novel� formation. An unfortunate bounce defied Mozzer to make it 1-1 before half-time but not before Dunc had taken out one of the youngsters incurring the wrath of the prepubescent element, if you can call wrath being beaten around the head with a wet Andrex and then being subjected to puerile sexual insinuation. In the second period, one of their old guard suffered a second hamstring pull leaving poor old Micks with just ten but not before Dan had put us in command at 2-1.

The back THREE teased the hell out of them with some intricate passing and never looked in trouble whilst sucking the life-force out of their depleted team. Two more goals followed without response, bar a shot from a corner brilliantly tipped over by Mozzer, Mickelham having got no closer to our goal than 25-yard pot-shots. First win of the season and 4-1 could�ve been bettered but for lagging legs not quite up to fighting back the lactic acid early in the season.

Jonny�s opener negated a couple of �less-than-accurate� previous attempts, latching on to Dunc�s dissecting through-ball and lashing it inside the upright with a ferocious left footer. Saying that, there were a number of subsequent occasions when a pass might just have been the better option, eh Jonny?

Dan�s scything run betwixt a lumbering defence and cool finish set the scene for a consummate second half and provided the impetus to instil a growing self-belief once 2-1 up. Jeff continued his comeback from a Lineker-esque toe complaint with an astute throw-in to the edge of the box when all-and-sundry had packed the penalty area. Harry�s flick was not quite powered in by Dan but beat their keeper for 3-1 from 25 yards � Moz might just have sympathised with him, after similar bobbling nastiness in the first half, had he not been yet another little mealy-mouthed kindergarten fodder. Ben got his reward for post-Euromoney bash energy expenditure after a fluid passage of passing, beating the aforementioned arsey nemesis custodian at the second attempt to round off the scoring at 4-1.

A moment to savour on the right wing as a juvenile miniature version of the venerable Jeff tried to shoulder him off the ball. Twas like a tiny fragment of galactic debris from the asteroid belt trying to put Jupiter out of orbit! From that moment on, Mickelham�s Munchkin daren�t even ATTEMPT a futile tackle on Lloydy� Ken �Calm as Always in the Face of Iniquitous Intimidation� Stack also indignated at a bout of teen torment after tugging their striker�s shirt only to be assaulted by a vicious swipe after the fact. The ref, previously heard bemoaning Mickelham�s lack of attacking prowess, gave Ken a lengthy lecture but declined to utter a word to their offender, ne�er mind proffer a deserved red card.

In the face of an excellent performance from No.1 to 13, an impressive debut by Harry and powerful �guest appearance� from Luke, it would normally be difficult to choose but for Mark�s contribution: unflappable, incisive and notable for his ballistic headers at the heart of a rock-solid backline. Think there�s probably a consensus on this one but make your feelings known after forthcoming matches and we�ll give an individual due credit every week.

Saturday�s display epitomised a strong team ethic and kick-started our season � now let�s carry it on and challenge for the title. After this, last week�s absentees are going to have to work their sweaty little socks off to regain their places!

Dunc