Hot. Dry. Very hot. Pitch in good shape. Ball in bad shape. Ball pump in even worse shape. Chris's head in worse shape still. Hot and dry. But it's the Cup - where fairytales are written. Chris turns in a princely job in goal, keeping us 2-1 in the lead to half time with an athletic tip over the bar. Swashbuckling performances from Liam, Joe, Aaron, Max and Ben again in midfield see us cruising at 4-1 with half an hour to go. We should score more but a well-drilled Lyric, like the wicked witch, lure our kids in for the sweeties only to spring the offside trap again and again. We get a fifth, then all of a sudden we fall into a deep slumber and Lyric start stealing our treasure. We are relieved to hear the huntsman's horn just seconds after Lyric, growing in adventure, get a fourth.
Another 10 mins and that lead could have vanished like Handsel's breadcrumb trail. All the way through the game there's an older guy standing on the touchline with the branch of a tree in his hand. Is he hiding behind it, or using it as a linesman's flag? Maybe he has some magic beans to swap. Maybe the heat got to us.
Team: Adam Bradbury, Aaron Gayle (1), Liam Greenaway (1), Joe Haley (1), Ben Chambers (2), Max Bland, Dan Hare, Chris Read, Russell Smith, Jimmie Lloyd, Jake, Paul Cowie, Mario Pisano, Connor Joseph.
