Okay so now we are on the league trail - or in my case, following my leader.

We opened at home to Golden Dragons and the first half was a non event. Neither of us could get anything past the 2 keepers of 10 and 14 SLs. After the half time oranges it brightened up a bit even though both teams put in their 1st choice keepers and subbed in some quality. Arblaster put us a goal up on 65 minutes but Flops levelled it 5 minutes later and that was it. a point apiece - neither of us going anywhere and we play tomoorow away at Camelot who are top having shoved 5 goals past BIB. They might do the same to us - don't care!

Our plus point was bringing in Owen Jenkins a UT 2/17 who will get a full 10CPs. Can't remember the last time any of my teams had a UT who might be able soon to win games for us.

Lisburn City were given a harsh lesson in clinical finishing as Gotham City Knights swept to a deserved 3–0 victory under the watchful eye of a loose-refereed Douglas McDonald. The warning signs were there early, with both sides trading near-identical chances, but it was Gotham who took control before the break. Tam Brown punished a dreadful Gary Wray clearance on 39 minutes, before Stevie Maskrey’s powerful header made it two just before half-time.

Lisburn huffed and puffed after the interval. Bernardo Silva and Jamsie Irwin both went close, only to be repeatedly denied by an inspired Will Dennis, who rightly walked away with Man of the Match. Any faint hope of a comeback was extinguished late on when Maskrey bravely nicked in Gotham’s third, leaving Coach Carl Oakes seething on the touchline.

“We defended like it was optional and found out the hard way.”

Lisburn City were given a harsh lesson in clinical finishing as Gotham City Knights swept to a deserved 3–0 victory under the watchful eye of a loose-refereed Douglas McDonald. The warning signs were there early, with both sides trading near-identical chances, but it was Gotham who took control before the break. Tam Brown punished a dreadful Gary Wray clearance on 39 minutes, before Stevie Maskrey’s powerful header made it two just before half-time.

Lisburn huffed and puffed after the interval. Bernardo Silva and Jamsie Irwin both went close, only to be repeatedly denied by an inspired Will Dennis, who rightly walked away with Man of the Match. Any faint hope of a comeback was extinguished late on when Maskrey bravely nicked in Gotham’s third, leaving Coach Carl Oakes seething on the touchline.

“We defended like it was optional and found out the hard way.”

Lisburn City’s trip to Pehuajo never really got going, and by the time Alf Myers had finished his day’s mischief, the Distillers were already halfway to the airport. The hosts struck first on 40 minutes, a slick move finished crisply by Myers after Mac Allister split the lines. Lisburn huffed, puffed and occasionally chipped the keeper, but most efforts ended either over the bar or in Matias Lopez’s grateful gloves.

The second half saw a brief Lisburn flutter, with Jamsie Irwin almost nicking an equaliser, only for Mateo Carabajal to arrive like a bouncer removing a drunk uncle from a wedding. Myers then doubled the lead on 57 with a low drive that left Carson stranded. From there, Pehuajo coasted, happy to let Lisburn pass sideways till the bus came.

A tough afternoon where effort wasn’t lacking, but sharpness certainly was.

“We didn’t so much lose the midfield battle as politely hand it over and wish them well with it.”

Busy times these days. Gained a UT in the auction - young Owen Jenkins is only aged 2 and will receive a full 10 CPs as we use him to bolster up some positions. 

We lost our last Cup group match 4-0 v Ye Olde Spurs by resting a few lads and getting keeper Russell his seasoning bonus. After gaining 4 points in the first 2 cup games we came back down to earth and have lost the last 4, without scoring a goal. Russell won't be our number one custodian till late next season but he will fit in as cover for our current main man, Michael Cooper, who has been getting rest times to allow big John to get trained up.

Now it is on to league games, and first up is a match v Mark's Golden Dragons. 

We were at home in our latest match to Colin's Almighty OPT ,a top side who are really hard to play against,we opted for a 4-3-3 normal as they went for a 4-2-4 normal, both sides started well and we opened the scoring on 8 minutes when Wilson deflected home a loose shot 1-0,11 minutes and all square as our goalie could only parry a shot and Mullen was there to smash home the loose ball 1-1,14 minutes and they were ahead as Douglass drilled home from the edge of the box 1-2,defences then took control till half time, 2nd half subs on and they seemed to up their tempo as Mcalpine raced in and slotted home on 69 minutes 1-3 and he fired home his 2nd on 84 minutes 1-4 and Captain Scotland out jumped everyone and powered home his header on 86 minutes 1-5 ,as normal we were outplayed and outshot 10 to 5 ,well played Colin. 

Last group match and at home to Paul's Dundee Broncos, another formidable side, we opted for a 5-2-3 normal as they went for a 4-2-4 normal, again both sides started well and enjoyed lots of possession but they opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Namib fired home 0-1,half time soon came and subs on ,we pushed on and levelled things up on 60 minutes when Clark drilled home from range 1-1,we could do no more in a tight game we were outshot 5 to 3 but got a point, well played Paul,best of luck to you and Colin in the knockout stages. 

Monster Island seems to suit us just fine — apparently volcanic rock makes a great home pitch. In Match 5 we brushed aside Merrylee 2–0, thanks to Olsson’s saves and goals from Possie and Navigating.
Suddenly “BIG is Beautiful” isn’t just a name, it’s a geological fact. The group table now has us sitting second with 8 points, one step from qualification. Camelot FC may think they’re kings, but we’ve got titans in waiting.
One more match to go, and if our mega-sized recruits keep stomping forward, the next round won’t just be football — it’ll be seismic.

Ye Olde Spurs went into their third straight away match in their SFLSL Cup group at FC Blades. A very tight game was decided by a single Keane goal to give Spurs an one nil victory. After three away games we have seven points going into the home return matches. We started against Pehuajo Expos. Again another close game but this time we conceded the only goal to lose one nil. Match five was at home with Lisburn City. We again struggled but did at least pick up a point with a goalless draw. We now go into the final game with FC Blades who can't qualify knowing our fate is still in our hands. 

We started with a home match against Derek's Silverx Surfers who were having a tough time in this group  we opted for a 4-3-3 normal and so did they,both sides started well and enjoyed lots of possession but we struck 1st on 11 minutes when Oteh fired home 1-0 and on 39 minutes Brobbel fired home 2-0 and on 44 minutes he got his 2nd as he deflected home a loose shot 3-0 ,half time came and subs on and Oteh fired home his 2nd on 52 minutes to seal the game 4-0 as we outplayed and outshot them 9 to 2,well played Derek .

Next we were at home to Colin's Almighty OPT ,when will we be able to get a result against them that is the million dollar question, we opted for a 4-3-3 normal as they went for a 4-2-4 normal  we started the quicker and opened the scoring on 8 minutes through a Wilson deflection 1-0 but the lead only lasted 3 minutes as Shepherd could only parry a fierce shot and Mullen was there to tap home the loose ball 1-1,24 ,minutes and they were ahead as Douglass drilled home from the edge of the box 1-2 ,the game settled down then as defences stood firm half time came and subs on  ,we were still well in the game until 69 minutes when McAlpine fired home 1-3 and he fired home his 2nd on 84 minutes 1-4 and on 86 minutes Captain Scotland headed home 1-5 as we were outplayed for periods and outshot 10 to 5 ,well played Colin

So 3rd in group and we will need a win against the Broncos to give us any chance of 3rd place high finishers ,but we may rest players and concentrate on our league campaign

Lisburn City ground out a gritty point at Ye Olde Spurs after a match where goalkeepers took centre stage and the forwards may as well have stayed at home polishing their boots. The hosts threw plenty forward early on, but Scott Carson was in one of his “not today lads” moods, tipping Robbie Keane’s thunderbolt onto the bar and smothering anything loose. At the other end, Bernardo Silva’s introduction lit a fire under the Distillers, yet every promising moment was snuffed out by the acrobatic Heurleho Gomes, who seemed determined to audition for Cirque du Soleil.

Glyn Pardoe and Dave Watson made vital blocks, while John Kennedy calmly tidied up just about everything Spurs tried. By full-time it felt like the match could’ve gone on until Christmas without a goal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Scott Carson, wiping his gloves: “If anyone finds the goals, tell them we were looking for them for 90 minutes.”

Lisburn City clipped through the Blades with the calm assurance of a side who’d already decided the script. Glyn Pardoe opened the scoring after carving through Sheffield’s back line like a man who fancied a highlight reel. His finish left John Russell waving at ghosts and the home support bouncing.

Sheffield tried everything bar phoning a friend. Their reshuffle at half-time offered a flicker of life, but Andy McDonald stayed sharp and the Distillers kept nudging forward. Eric Brook made it two with a tidy header, moments after being told off for spitting, proving you really can be both naughty and effective in the same afternoon.

The Blades’ misery deepened when Andre Brookes was stretchered off with no subs left, leaving them to cling on. Lisburn simply managed the game out with a grin.

 David Blair quipped afterwards: “Expected result… though our lad in goal got more fresh air than touches.”

Was happy with the 4 points from our opening 2 cup group games v Lisburn and Pehuajo, but came back down to earth with a 1-0 home loss to Spurs. Unlucky to lose all 3 points but at least I know we won't win the group or even get a lucky runners up spot. 

So now from today onwards we train up the lads in readiness for the league - would our group opponents take pity on us please - take the 3 points and the pies and bovril we supply, but maybe stop at 4 goals.... :-)

We started with an away game at Derek's Silverx Surfers, always a tough side to play against and sometimes they can surprise you,they opted for a 5-3-2 normal as we went for a 4-3-3 normal, both sides started well and enjoyed lots of possession but defences on top up until 41 minutes when Ghlas fired home 0-1,half time came and subs on ,both sides pushing on looking for that opening and Clark drilled home on 81 minutes 0-2 as we just edged the shot count 3 to 2 ,well played Derek.

Next we travelled to Colin's OPT ,not a place many people like to come to ,as they usually know the result before they step onto the pitch as this place is a cauldron and very hard to play in,we always struggle against OPT especially when they are at home ,they opted for a 4-2-4 normal as we went for a 5-2-3 normal, they started the quicker and opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Victor fired home 1-0,then our defence got its act together for the rest of the 1st half,2nd half subs on and we were enjoying lots of possession but in defence not the end we wanted to be ,80 minutes and Captain Scotland fired home 2-0 and on 81 minutes McCallum slotted home to seal the game 3-0 as we were outplayed and outshot 11 to 2 ,well played Colin.

Next we travelled to Paul's Dundee Broncos, another side who always make it hard to play against them and they have a quality side, they opted for a 4-2-4 normal as we went for a 5-2-3 opportunistic, game on and both sides enjoying lots of possession but defences on top for the 1st half,2nd half subs on and a slick move saw a deep cross and Dartmoor out jumped everyone and powered home his header 1-0,we tried to play ourselves back into it,but could not break down a stubborn defence as we were outshot 3 to 2,well played Paul.

So 3 games in and 3 points to show,so it will be concentrate on the league and get our apps trained up.

There was a lively crowd at The Distillery, and they didn’t have to wait long for something to cheer. Jamsie Irwin got things bubbling with a neat half-volley, and once that went in you could almost hear the Expos sigh. Phil McDonagh then helped himself to two in quick succession, the second so calm you’d have thought he was rolling it into his own back garden. By the time Phil tucked away his hat-trick before the break, a few travelling supporters were already checking the bus times.

The second half brought more smiles as Bernardo Silva nipped in for a tidy finish and Aaron Cochrane thumped home after a mix-up at the back. With Otamendi organising things like a man rearranging his shed, Pehuajo barely laid a glove on Lisburn.

McDonagh joked: “If Carl brings out the good biscuits next week, we’ll try to score seven.”

There was a lively crowd at The Distillery, and they didn’t have to wait long for something to cheer. Jamsie Irwin got things bubbling with a neat half-volley, and once that went in you could almost hear the Expos sigh. Phil McDonagh then helped himself to two in quick succession, the second so calm you’d have thought he was rolling it into his own back garden. By the time Phil tucked away his hat-trick before the break, a few travelling supporters were already checking the bus times.

The second half brought more smiles as Bernardo Silva nipped in for a tidy finish and Aaron Cochrane thumped home after a mix-up at the back. With Otamendi organising things like a man rearranging his shed, Pehuajo barely laid a glove on Lisburn.

McDonagh joked: “If Carl brings out the good biscuits next week, we’ll try to score seven.”

Lisburn City ground out a hard-fought 0–0 draw with Ye Olde Spurs FC in a match that offered plenty of industry but very little incision. Both sides struggled to break each other down, though City enjoyed the better spells of pressure, especially in the first half.

Eric Brook and Jack Grealish worked tirelessly on the flanks, while Gary Wray and John Kennedy were rock solid at the back. The best Lisburn chance came late on when Phil McDonagh pounced on a loose back-pass, only for Gomes to deny him with a sharp save. At the other end, Andy McDonald earned Man of the Match with two excellent stops and an assured display.

City will feel they edged it, but a point apiece was fair in the end. After the match, manager Carl Oakes said, “We were organised and committed, but we needed one moment of magic to win it.”

Lisburn City suffered a tough 3–1 defeat at FC Blades after a late collapse turned a promising performance on its head. City were excellent in the first half, moving the ball with confidence and pressing smartly. Their pressure paid off just before the break when Aaron Cochrane danced down the right and slipped a clever ball to Eric Brook, who finished calmly for a deserved lead.

City created more chances after the interval, with McDonagh, Crossan and Cochrane all threatening to double the advantage, but that crucial second goal wouldn’t come. The Blades punished the missed opportunities in ruthless fashion, scoring three times in the final ten minutes through Arblaster and a brace from Kieffer Moore.

After the match, manager Carl Oakes said, “We were the better side for long spells, but we’ve got to finish games properly.”

We started the group cup matches into the unknown - guessing the youthful face on the front page isn't mine - mine is the grizzly bear in the personal bios - can someone delete the youthful lad alongside me please - I'm not wanting to upset any programme.

Right, to business. Home to Lisburn I always felt we were worth a point - the game was going well enough even with our rookie keeper. But we lost a goal before the half time whistle and until the 80th minute we were still looking at a defeat. Then we went Press and scored in the 83rd and a minute later to lead 2-1. Went back to save the win and actually scored a third goal. Good start and the shots say it was deserved.

We travelled to Pehuajo Expos and the game had a draw about it from the start. Chances were created but even with the rookie still in the defences were too strong and 0-0 was how it finished. So, a good start and hopefully we are still in contention 4 games from now.

Ye Olde Spurs started their SFLSL cup campaign with two difficult away matches but managed to pick up four points. Our first game was away at Pehuajo Expos. A very tight match was decided by a Werner goal on 65 minutes for an one nil victory. The second game was a visit to Lisburn City. Another close match finished goalless. We now travel to FC Blades who have also picked up four points. A tough opponent. 

BIB arrives on Monster Island with a seismic splash — literally. After relocating their home ground to the newly reinforced Mucho Mas Monumental, the club is preparing for its most unpredictable campaign yet. The headline addition is the towering newcomer Mechagodzilla, whose arrival has redefined the phrase physical presence. Early training sessions reportedly required upgraded goalposts, stronger drones for aerial drills, and a revised insurance policy.

On the pitch, BIB will blend human-scale agility with mega-size power. Coaches are experimenting with hybrid tactics: ground-level speed from returning veterans combined with sky-high target play aimed at their titanic signings. Set pieces may become their deadliest weapon — corners launched upward for a 100-meter mechanical header are already trending in preseason clips.

The biggest challenge? Chemistry. Integrating players who range from 1.7 meters to 120 meters tall demands new communication protocols, jumbo-sized bibs, and a two-tiered locker-room layout. But if BIB can harmonize the scales — both literal and tactical — they could dominate the league in ways no team has imagined.

Expect spectacle, shockwaves, and a season where “playing big” takes on a whole new meaning. Monster Island may never be the same.