Big Marve wisely took himself off after a bleach injury, but when he took off crowd favourite Coops soon afterwards to a volley of abuse and "do you not want to win?" - from only Coops - tactics were questioned. But the introduction of younger legs had some coincidental effect, as first Drew went through and finished with aplomb, and then Bainsy chipped the keeper to wrap up the points. Job done, and if a consistent team can turn out most weeks this could be a good season for the 3rds...

Despite an underpar performance from the 3rds not helped by the skipper's absence due to hair issues, the team emerged as worthy winners. A scrappy game from start to finish saw Sutton reduced to 10 men after around 20 minutes due to injury. The 3rds fully expected to romp away with it after new striker Alex combined well to let Jez in. However a 'Dix-up' at the back saw the oppo level things up, as Skeletor let one through and the normally cat-like Butler failed to come off his line. As Butler rued his post-birthday hangover only beaten by Gav's 6am gay gangbang, the Comics belatedly picked up the pace - a 30 yard clearance from Dix ended up in the back of the net while Jez's shiny boots blinded the keeper to let him in for his second soon after. Thereafter the game was distinctly forgettable. Playing badly and winning however is the sign of a good side and the 3rds top the table early on in the season with a 100% record.

Healy's report was this: "me me me me me, TIMMEH!". There is a touch of the Coops in this young man...

The complete injustice of the scoreline seemed to anger the team who then went on the rampage. First Ricky latched onto Dave T's through ball following a dummy by Drew to pull a goal back. Then, despite Paul Foley picking up an injury which left the thirds with effectively ten men, the old guard of the team combined as Ewan raced down the right to cross for Drew who powered home a header from close range in the last minute of the game. If we keep playing like this and with a bit of luck then some unfortunate team is going to get a real pasting when everything finally clicks together for the thirds.

A late goal was conceded, and ALL the blame can be attributed to a flapping keeper. As the ball spun in the air “uncontrollably”, an unchallenged Greg’s options were to catch it, or catch it. He chose neither, and they knocked in from close range!  After the match, a dubious man of the match award was given to Dave Tanner despite the protests from his fellow northerners (Paul and Gavin), who had seen all too often DT’s 5-a-side tendencies. However this proves a few jinks, and turns, plus losing the ball a lot despite plenty of MAN-ON cries is sufficient to get MOTM.

After a great run of performances, featuring memorable victories against two title-chasing sides, Comics' revival hit the buffers with this disappointing defeat at home to rock bottom Sinjuns Grammarians. Shorn of Captain Marv-el (lost in Bucharest, or Budapest, somewhere in Eastern Europe anyway), and Ricky (ankle throbbing matched by head throbbing from previous night's antics), and the (very) poor man's Makele (Paul T), a slightly weakened Comics side still bossed the game with ease. Healy's intelligent distribution continually threatened up front while Gav adjusted to his libero role with gusto, winning the occasional header and shouting loudly enough to prevent SG from challenging for the rest, while Will T and Alex bombed down the flanks threateningly. The match stats wouldn't have made pretty reading for the visitors -Comics hitting over 25 shots, forcing in excess of 15 corners, and enjoying the vast majority of possession, most of it in the opposition's half - but the one stat that mattered, was the dubious first-half goal snatched by the visitors. Only one man failed to see the glaring offside that preceded the final simple tap-in, and unfortunately that man had the whistle in his hand. Luckily for the, gulp, otherwise impressive Tobi the home side's protests were strangely muted- he can surely have expected little short of a full-on lynch mob after that decision. SGs wouldn't threaten again, but resolute defending and a superb display from the visiting keeper kept Comics at bay. Man of the match Will had arguably the best chances, twice smashing straight at the keeper after pullbacks from Healy, while Drew's speculative lob was ruled out for multiple offside. One goal would have opened the floodgates for the home side- unfortunately that goal never came. Disappointing.

With 20 minutes to go “silver fox” had found himself in familiar territory in front of goal, despite the pleas from his team mates to PASS, he jinked effortlessly, and was hacked down by the full back. There were few (in fact no) complaints! Ricky stepped up and superbly sent the fat Johnny Vegas look-a-like the wrong way.  As the game reached its climax a dubious foul was given against silver fox. The wall was ill prepared to stop the ball, and as the ball struck DT’s soft moisturised hands, his feeble wrists were unable to stop the trickling ball. 2-2!  A scrappy game, and two points lost! Tanner picked up his fourth man of the match award for a solid display in goal. If only he had better closure when pulling the birds in Clapham, Dave would be a world beater. As it happened the 19 year American left him stranded. “I did get a kiss goodbye though” was DT’s only saving grace!