Ye Olde Spurs didn't have a great weekend. We started off okay with a two all draw at Montevideo Tricolores but then we played at home against The New Saints. A bit of a disaster even though we played quite well and created more chances we somehow lost three nil. We dropped to fourth bottom and are now in the playoff positions. The midweek match was a SFLSL cup game against Dublin Illuminati. Everything came right, we played early cross for the first time this season and it paid off. A four one victory to put us into the last eight. 

The Broncos' Saturday match was against AC Sapone, who diidn't have much of a side out, and stalled from the start.  We scored after four minutes - Winston Welsh's ninth of the season.  And there is really nothing more to say - neither side scored after that and we picked up a very welcome three points, keeping us 5th in the table.

On Sunday we hosted Camelot, who we'd already beaten three times this season.  Matt Cooper didn't show up for this one, so The Knights played passively, and so passive were they that we walked the ball into the net in the first minute.  By half time it was 4-0 and the final score was 6-0.  A hat-trick for Ardie Savea and we pushed up to fourth in the table.

Wednesday's match was the SFLSL Cup and the daunting Sheffield Rovers awaited us.  Except that they weren't at all daunting.  Dan Fitzgerald had evidently decided to concentrate on the league and a very sorry-looking side stalled in the vague hope of winning a penalty shoot-out.  We took the lead after ten minutes - by half time it was 3-0 and the final score was 5-0.  A hat-trick for Mohammed Mustand here, and we're through to the last 8!

A ridiculously easy week, three virtual walkovers, twelve goals scored, none conceded.  If only they were all like that...

We were drawn against James free flowing free scoring New Jersey Nutmegs who were on a roll at present flying high in division 2,this looked a really tough match on paper as both sides opting for a 4-2-4 early ball tactics, both sides started well and enjoyed lots of possession but we opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Vlahovic fired home 0-1,21minutes in and game changing moment as Levanen brought down Johnston in the box,ref pointed to the spot and then produced a red card, we were down to 10 men,Johnston got up and fired home his spot kick 1-1,a quick reshuffle of the 10 men and we pushed on and Vlahovic fired home his 2nd on 28 minutes 1-2 and on 41 minutes a strong run from Savic saw him slot home 1-3,2nd half and subs on ,55 minutes and Vlahovic completed his hat trick when he powered home his header at the back post 1-4,60 minutes and Savic drilled home his 2nd 1-5 and Torres completed the scoring on 86 minutes 1-6 as we outplayed and outshot them 13 to 1,well played James.

Back to The Distillery and the league campaign to welcome Inter Postmen. City open 4-3-3 normal and the Posties decide to throw everything at Lisburn, starting two wingers in a 4-2-4 early cross set-up. It’s Lisburn who take the game to Inter. As early as the 13th minute Paul Dickov takes a cheeky long shot that catches the Inter keeper off guard and while we are only 13 minutes into the game, City have a deserved lead. Twenty minutes later Phillip Mitchell doubles the lead and Tommy McIlroy makes it three shortly after and Lisburn take that lead into the break. In the 72nd minute John Heron makes the captain’s bonus safe and all is good at The Distillery.

Everyone boards the bus straight after post match refreshments as we have a journey and a half to the home of Cannons. City get off to a great start with a second minute opener from the head of Carlos Tevez and that’s how it remained when the players came in for a wee cuppa tea and a couple of Jaffa cakes. Manager Oakes’s halftime team talk did the trick. Michael Brown headed Lisburn’s second, followed by a third for City and second for Michael Brown in the 64th minute. But neither City nor in deed Brown were finished there, Brown getting his hatrick a minute later and Lisburn left the home of the Cannons, four goal victors.

That brought us to the next round of the Dowson Cup and a neutral fixture against Ye Old Spurs FC. Spurs started with a very formidable looking, attacking 4-2-4 normal set up, while City also went 4-2-4 but for them it was Early Cross. The game was by no means dull in the first half with the sides only separated by a Phillip Mitchel early goal. Then the second half arrived like a whirlwind with the sides clocking up a mighty 6 goals in the second half with Lisburn chipping in with more of the spoils than Spurs. Lisburn ran out 5 to 2 victors in this great crowd pleaser and to be fair that scoreline could easily have gone the other way had Lady Luck not decided to pull on a Lisburn shirt that day.

We started the weekend with an away game at Sergei's Orgullo, a quality side who are always in the top few looking for the title ,and this season was no different, we have always struggled against them as they turn it on in a blink of an eye and there's nothing you can do about it, they opted for a 4-2-4 early ball as we went for a 6-2-2 opportunistic, game on and 1st half we matched them in all areas ,albeit we were defending deeply and not attacking, 2nd half subs on and they seemed to up their tempo and opened the scoring on 48 minutes when Chendo fired home 1-0 and on 49 minutes Guerrero fired home to seal the game as they outplayed and outshot us 5 to 0,well played Sergei as usual.

Next we travelled to Andy's Spurs, always a tough place to get a result, they opted for a 4-2-4 normal as we went for a 4-2-4 early ball, both sides started well and enjoyed lots of possession, but on 35 minutes against the run of play Young fired home 0-1,half time came and subs on ,we started quickly and on 48 minutes a quick attack saw Saduq stick a leg out and deflect home 0-2 and we sealed the game on 90 minutes when Savic fired home 0-3 ,we were outplayed for periods and outshot 13 to 6 ,but McCririck in our goal was in outstanding form with 9 saves,well played Andy.

So with the 3 point weekend we rise to 7th.

Ye Olde Spurs started the week in fine fashion with a five nil home victory against FC Blades. The Blades did put out a weakened team but we put them to the sword. The second game last weekend was away to Bijker Boys. We came away with a point after the match finished goalless. Then the midweek game at home against high flying Dublin Illuminati. We put out a good starting eleven, outplayed them, created more chances and somehow lost two one. Their keeper Grilli being man of the match says it all. 

Well, it's been a dreadful week for the Broncos.

We knew that our league position flattered us but approached our visit to The New Saints with some optimism.  We were, I think, marginally the better team, and took a 0-2 lead, pegged back to 1-2 by half time.  But in the second half, everything went against us. We continued to have at least equality but The New Saints scored three times without us being able to respond and we lost this one 2-4.

Our Sundey match was one we expected to lose, a home tie against Sheffield Rovers, and we met expectations with a flourish, losing 1-5.  This was perhaps a bit flattering for our visitors but certainly they deserved the win, and what's a little goal difference between friends?

Wednesday'smatch gave us a sigh of relief as we we travelled to play Merrylee Maestros, our old club.  Graeme Scott was off down the pub so his team played passively against us and we had a considerable advantage in all areas of the pitch,  We duly took the lead after 14 minutes, only for MM to equalise on 28.  No matter, we had a significant shot advantage and went ahead again just before half time.  We exetended our lead to 1-3 after the break and although MM pulled one back we were soon in front again, 2-4 with 18 minutes to go.  And then the special randomisation algorithm took control. and MM scored twice to tie the match at 4-4.  The random numbers generators at its most perverse....

Last week ORA saw the top of the head walk away.

The victorya against BIB seem to calm waters at Orgy Park, but a new defeat, this time against DUB, saw SFR took a wider distance from Sergei's lads. The latin derby against MT saw many angry supporters receive Orgullo, and only the good result calmed them down.

Now, after MSA the squad has half a season + 1 match to recover 8 points of disadvantage. ORA would need to win almost everything, the same way SFR has done so far, and wait for the Rovers to fail. A hard task if Sergei wants to put some eggs on the cups basket.

This weekend could be a league final for ORA. Afetr the match with TNS, ORA will visit SFR. A new defeat could leave ORA 11 points behind Sheffield, and force Orgullo to focus on other competitions.

The Baggies came to town next and it looks like they are using the game against Lisburn as an EL recovery game. They open with a very defensive 5-2-3 opportunist formation with quite a few sub 10 SL defenders for a game City have gone forward heavy with a couple of wingers supplying Carlos Tevez and Sam McAdam in the middle. Goals in the 13th, 25th and 43rd minutes from Phillip Mitchell, John Martin and Darius Vassell send City in at half time with a commanding three goal lead. Carlos Tevez then chips in with a fourth and not to be left out second half substitute Eric Brook finishes off West Brom in the 87th minute. Lisburn chalked up 12 shots on target to zero from the Baggies and we are now looking good, three points clear at the top of division two.

Lisburn then headed to New Jersey to lock horns with the Nutmegs. Both sides open the game in 4-2-4 formations, New Jersey going Early Cross and Lisburn play Normal. What a cracker this game turned out to be. Lisburn had a two goal lead within the first  eleven minutes with goals from Eric Brook and Carlos Tevez but the Nutmegs were level again with 10 minutes with a brace from Boaby Gillespie. Ten minutes from the break Brook scored his second and gave City a 2-3 lead during that break. It was more of the same entertaining football in the second half. Nutmegs drew level then City went 3-5 up but New Jersey were not finished, Wade Wilson bringing them to within one goal with 9 minutes to play. This show piece game finished with Lisburn the victors and recipients of the three points but both sides deserved three points for this highly entertaining game.

A break from the league campaign next draws City against Highland Rangers in the Dowson Cup. Lisburn do all the attacking in this straight knockout at a neutral venue and have a healthy two goal lead at halftime, thanks to goals from John Martin and Philip Mitchell. And Lisburn continue in the second half, how they started in the first and score a victory securing third when Eric Brook gave us a great individual goal, sending City comfortably into the next phase.

We started the weekend with a home game against Paul's high flying Dundee Broncos, a rally tough looking side on paper and even tougher to get a result against, we opted for a 4-2-4 early ball as they went for a 4-2-4 normal, they started quickly and opened the scoring on 8 minutes when Brumby fired home 0-1  and things got worse for us on 35 minutes when Camargue slotted home 0-2,we slowly played ourselves back into the game and pulled one back on 41 minutes when Paredes powered home his header 1-2,half time came and subs on,we started the 2nd half stronger and levelled things up on 51 minutes when Savic fired home 2-2,we pushed on and on 67 minutes a quick break and deep cross saw Young power home his header 3-2 and on 69 minutes Torres raced through and slotted home 4-2 ,an even game of 8 shots each but we were slow to get into our stride but did so in the 2nd half,well played Paul.

Then we travelled to Matt's Camelot  who were sitting down at the bottom with any luck seeming to by pass them,so could we take advantage of this, they opted for a 4-3-3 normal as we went for a 4-2-4 early ball, we started the quicker and opened the scoring on 2 minutes when Torres fired home 0-1,but then found it really hard to break down a stubborn defence, half time soon came and subs on,they changed tact to press on 75 minutes to try and get themselves back into the game but we sealed it on 89 minutes when Esteve fired home 0-2 as we outplayed them for periods and outshot them 14 to 0,well played Matt.

So after a 6 point weekend we sit 9th.