The biggest game of the season so far had arrived. A classic first verses second meeting, where the winner would take not only three valuable points, but also the top spot in the league. Garnett had been on a decent run of form and the win last week made up for previous mistakes. Like so many times before this season, the referee made a no show, therefore an agreement was made where both teams chose a player to referee for 45 minutes. Tom Penn took the "referee reins" for the first half and got the match under way.

Both teams started lively, with the referee doing an excellent job making decisions with several crunching tackles flying in from midfield. A breakthrough came mid way through the first half, a corner was swung in over everyone except for non other than captain, Steve Simms, who found himself with a tap in at the bag post, nut-megging the man on the line and stating his intentions for golden boot this season. Garnett continued to push, finding it hard to break through the stubborn opposition defence, but winning almost everything in midfield. The first half ended advantage Garnett.

Substitutions were made 10 minutes into the second half, with Tom Penn being relived off his referee role and taking a central midfield position for Hindle, James Atkinson came on for the injured James Bradley and Richard Swiggs replaced Doug Haines. The Bend It Like Beckham side really started to push for an equaliser and some outstanding defending from Simms and Nunn kept Garnett's lead in tact. A second goal came 25 minutes in, when Tom Penn found himself in space on the edge of the area and exquisitely curled the ball into the top right of the goal.

Rory (Fabien "Twinkle Toes" Barthez) Kroon in goal was rarely tested, however even with another heart stopping moment with the ball at his feet and a dummy round the on coming striker (which is becoming an "interesting occurrence"), he managed to pick up his third and well earned clean sheet of the season. At the final whistle Garnett were victorious with an important 2-0 win, a very happy gaffer and a comfy seat on top of league table.

Author: Jambo

Team: R.Kroon, D.Haines (R.Swiggs), S.Simms, C.Nunn (MoM), C.Normington, R.Wallace,
A.Hindle (T.Penn), J.Royal, L.Lavery, L.Appleby, J.Bradley (J.Atkinson)

NB: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the
views of the Gosforth Garnett Bohemian Football Club as a whole.