This match had been brought forward for an early start as not to clash with the Carling Cup Final - welcomed by most of us who were either off to Wem-ber-ley or thankfully for once could spend the afternoon entertaining the kids at home. There's something special about our away trips. Friendly faces turn up in ones and twos, committed souls who have forgone a decent breakfast and hour with the sunday papers to turn out for Recreativo. A couple of phonecalls prompt even Bilal and Stef out of their beds and by 9.20am we're squeezed into two cars and heading for the right regal Regents Park, picking up Super Mario on the way.
It's always a joy going to Regents Park to play. London Zoo and it's 'Bear Mountain' form a fantastic backdrop alongside the 
pitches. We parked next to the tapir enclosure, our prescence causing the strange looking creatures to charge around as we empty the car of kitbags and head for the Hub, the UFO looking building that houses both the dressing rooms and cafe. This is everything that Hackney Marshes isn't. It's organised, it's clean, it's the kind of place where you want to play football when you shell out so much money every season on dressing rooms. There's space, there's showers, there's soap, there's toilet paper.
pitches. We parked next to the tapir enclosure, our prescence causing the strange looking creatures to charge around as we empty the car of kitbags and head for the Hub, the UFO looking building that houses both the dressing rooms and cafe. This is everything that Hackney Marshes isn't. It's organised, it's clean, it's the kind of place where you want to play football when you shell out so much money every season on dressing rooms. There's space, there's showers, there's soap, there's toilet paper. We've had some great games against Livingstone in the past, but felt their Argentina style kit has always given them an advantage. Those light blue and white vertical stripes - a classic kit inspired by the colours of the sky, expansive colours of the heavens, worn by the likes of Messi, Riquelme and the master himself, Maradona. (Kit colour is important. The now defunct Hackney Marshans, perennial Sunday Super-League whipping boys, wore a nasty purple and white striped number and later a brown and cream kit. Ghastly, and surely the real reason they imploded).
An early Livingstone corner and an un-manned Recreativo back post invited them an easy goal. A quarter of all goals we've conceeded over the past six seasons have come from opposition set piec
es and corners (something we will definately work on during this summer's training schedule!). Still, Recreativo fought back, playing the better football, Miguel scoring twice and keeping us up there in the top half of the table. Another really great performance from Recreativo.
es and corners (something we will definately work on during this summer's training schedule!). Still, Recreativo fought back, playing the better football, Miguel scoring twice and keeping us up there in the top half of the table. Another really great performance from Recreativo.Those of us who had gone over to Wembley,(£6.10 for a pie! and more whipped up hysteria from the pa announcer than a Smash Hits Poll Winners Party!),came away slightly dissapointed with another cruel defeat at the hands of Man Utd, but bouyed and happy with the result that really mattered, another victory for Recreativo. And this week, for once, the kit failed to make it back to the Gregory household. Result!
Team : Chris Read, John Megaughin, Joao Spinola, Nick Candy, Marcus du Sautoy, Stefan Garcia Fernandez, Adam Bradbury, Russell Smith, Miguel Morales, Dario Costa, Bilal Talib Ali. Subs : Mario Pisano, James Humphreys.