Saturday 28th February – OTFC Vets 6-3 Walton Strollers
D. Harry – 3 (Three)
C. Caldecott – 2
R. Evelyn – 1 (Pen.)

This was the return fixture of the game that saw us thoroughly routed in the first half of the season. However, since then we have found a new belief and it is not just in the hereafter. Fielding a new signing, Chris Caldecott, and welcoming back to their natural happy hunting ground, Jon Kent, Dirty Harry and Sniffer Smith we looked a better constructed outfit.

We kicked off and scored the fastest goal I can remember, so that is at least 1 week. A long through ball saw new boy Chris outpace the pedestrian Walton defence and coolly slot in the opener after 12 seconds. Very shortly after he repeated the dose and we were 2-0 up. However, we have been here before this season and we started to let Walton back in the game by relinquishing territory in midfield. This time, we defended well and held out until half time.

Expecting a rush from the treasonous Walton team (who field at least one Old Tiffinian and who have an Old Tiff as Chairman) we survived the initial onslaught and then went 3-0 up with a goal by the predatory Dave Harry. This, we thought, would be the end of the proceedings but 2 fortuitous goals brought Walton back into it. Dave then gave us some more breathing space with his second goal but after some hectic exchanges we were pegged back again to 4-3. However, this was really a final throw of the dice by a Walton team out on its legs.

Dave completed his hat trick and celebrated by not buying a jug after the match. Ricci Evelyn rubbed frankincense into the wound by slotting home a late penalty to make the final score 6-3 and revenge was gained.

If we could just keep this team together we would not be bottom of the league I feel.