And so, onto Coral Sea Park to face the form team in the AA2’s this year, Maroubra. Averaging 4 goals a game and 0 against it was clear that Barnstoneworth needed to be tight at the back to ensure they had a chance of victory.

So the 2nd game of the season was upon us after the Easter break against what was thought to be tricky opponents.

New manager Neil Baker had mixed emotions after watching his new side fail to snatch all three points on the opening day of the Eastern suburbs AA2 league. Taking charge of Barnstoneworth United 2nd’s for the first time Baker’s new look side drew 2-2 with newly promoted Pagewood.

It’s been a season of heartache for the loyal Barnstoneworth fans after an impressive 5-0 win against top of league on Saturday to lose at Sydney Uni on the Sunday, with only 6 points on the board the season is clearly in turmoil.

After two defeats in a row moral was surprisingly high after Fridays session at the dogs. Chris Neale appeared to be all recovered however still seemed to speak in a strange Irish accent for some reason and after his off field indiscretions he was taking a rest from the captaincy and Dan took over.

With hindsight the game against Queens Park was never going to be a classic. The pre-match period was littered with tell-tale signs that BSW were never going to click.

Well it was rained and rained and rained, and it was windy. We didn’t all move to Australia for this! But nevertheless, there was a game of football to be had, and we we’re expecting a tough game. Coogee on the otherhand, after hearing of our ongoing goalkeeping issue had decided that we were there for for the taking, and insultingly had a shot straight from kick-off, which amused everyone on the pitch.

A perfect day for the opening game of the season and the ideal opposition to test Barnstoneworth with the much ‘hated’ Maroubra, a team that probably cost us the league last season.

BUFC were still smarting from a 2-1 defeat two weeks ago handed out by the opposition, but make no mistake, we fancied our chances and would be up for this one!.

On another fine ‘Spring comes early’ day in the Eastern Suburbs, Barnstoneworth AA2’s arrived for their 2nd Semi Final in better mood than expected considering the poor showing last week against Dunbar. That mood may have had something to do with another team night out down the Tool Shed on Friday, a night that I was not able to make due to health reasons (no I wasn’t injured).

Our first chance to take on Dunbar who had somehow sneaked away with the title by one point as we tried to win it by boring the opposition to death with draws.

What started off as another glorious sunny Sunday for the big game, threatened to be washed away with the worst ‘end of the world’ clouds coming over to hit our swamp pitch. Whilst going through an intense warm up, a few drops of rain spluttered and some of the hard men 2nds sprinted for cover (never seen Ben move so fast) to the changing rooms (now fitted with neon tool shed lights for night time attraction).

The previous weekend had seen an 11 man squad play a disappointing 1-1 draw with top of the table Coogee. This week nothing short of a win against Waverley would do if we were to help cement our place in the top 4 for the Grand finals.

A big crowd and exciting, free flowing football was expected for this top of the table clash between 2 of the giants in the Eastern Suburbs Football League – I suppose we should have realised it wasn’t going to be our day when Sean took us to the wrong pitch (apparently not the 1st time but I can’t comment).

After a recent run of form where we (except Granty / Barry Evans) were scoring freely and not conceding were hopefully of another three points against Sydney Uni however, this could put us top of the league and will we crack under pressure (name the artist who featured in Queens version of this hit song? )??

I have the honour and privilege of writing a match report for the first ever AA2 game held under floodlights (well for at least 2 seasons).

Another lovely sunny day greeted the notoriously unreliable Barnstoneworth AA2’s side in their clash with 2nd from bottom Maccabi. After a draw the previous week in what can only be described as a great advertisement for not playing sport and going to the pub instead, the home side were a little bit nervous and hoping to take all 3 points on this occasion, not whinge at each other for more than 20 of the 90 minutes and possibly play something that closely resembles to football.

No rain had fallen the night before so the game would be on. We arrived at the pitch and as expected we were going to be playing on a sand/muck pit with the odd blade of grass scattered about .

Another fine day greets the team as we rock up for another 90 minutes of torture at ‘The Swamp!’ (Well it is torture when you can only watch from the sidelines). The Barnstoneworth boys looked in buoyant mood what with returning hero’s Potter and Grant back from playing Kabadi or something, and a more ‘cohesive’ look about the team following a night out on Friday (where the hell were most of you anyway????)

Another Sunday afternoon and in desperate need of three points to take full advantage of the game in hand were yet to play against Coogee. The gaffer was well prepped seemingly making up the squad by whoever he first made eye contact with around the circle we’d gathered into. This is the only reason I can think for asking me to play as a striker up front with Abdul! The way the colour drained from my face probably didn’t instil the confidence Sean was looking for……………’Potter’ it is then, Mac bench !