it meant that Yarrow and Marrs got to make their returns to the Angels fold from the start.
Once the game got underway after the traditional warm up of belting the ball in any old direction, Banta Cruz were rattled by the relative confidence of the Angels, no doubt spurred on by their brand new jerseys. Five minutes in however, and Banta went on the attack. As a shot came in McKirdy, looking for another clean sheet in the Angels net missed the ball. What happened next is sure to live in Angels history. Whether or not the ball was going to go in is a contentious issue. What happened next was, surely clear-cut. Yarrow, remembering his days between the sticks decided to punch the ball away.
The finest save he had ever made for Angels, however he was playing in his more recently recognised position of left back so this wasn't the smartest move. As everyone expected the penalty and a red card for Yarrow, Tonkin hoofed the ball
away and nothing happened. The ref didn't see it. As the game continued, the Banta Cruz players took every chance to try
and wreak vengeance on the Angels. As Marrs nearly got himself into a fight Yarrow was hacked down, Tonkin started putting himself about and abuse and late tackles were being thrown around everywhere.
As the game wore on into a routine of violence, the Angels got some rhythm going and had a few nice moves. As the ball moved down the right wing, Simon put a deep cross in towards the far post. From out of nowhere, Marrs arrived in the box
and headed (yes, really) the ball past a flailing ex-Angel James Carsley. The Angels had taken the lead against the league leaders. As the game wore on towards half time, there was still time for Nick to go down injured after having been hacked down while making a clearance. Sadly for the Memorial Hospital faithful, it was nothing worse than cramp. A few more shots came flying in before the break, Tonkin's speculative effort having the usual result except it didn't go out for a throw which surprised many.
As the second half got underway the Angels were expecting
a bit of a backs to the wall job and generally this was what they got. Excellent defending from Stuart and Kyle, clearing some headers in the style of Matt's Ball, and some great shot stopping by Tom, meant that the Angels were hanging on for the win, happy to counter on the break. Shots from Mike, Sam, Tony, Neil and Jolanda on her debut meant that when the Angels did get the ball out of their own half, there was still the danger of them getting another past Carsley. The sheer determination of the team not to concede meant that at times the Angels had nearly every player in their own half helping out the beleaguered Angels defence.
Another goal was not to be forthcoming however, and as the final whistle blew, the Angels had recorded their second win of the season, kept their dreams of the Division Two title alive and had broken the magical 7 point barrier, thus achieving their most succesful league record ever.
Angels: Tom; Stewart, Laurence, Kyle, Nick; Hutch (c) Tony, Mike Steel, Sam Marrs; Simon (Schweitzer), Tricky (c)