Bad performance, bad result. Particularly disappointing after a very encouraging win against Kensington Place the previous Saturday.

Straight from the kick-off it seemed as though CPR were out of sorts: they could not get their passing game going, and were sluggish both on and off the ball. However, Lord Nelson threatened only from set pieces, and there were few chances created early on.

When the breakthrough came it was a little bit fortunate for Nelson, as the ball broke for their striker after a CPR tackle, which left him clean through and he finished with aplomb.

Despite going the goal behind, CPR could still not raise their game, and it wasn’t long before Nelson had their second: a corner to the far post nodded in from a few yards out.

This time CPR did start to show a bit of fight, and the men in blue and red started to complete their passes and make their tackles. Still, it took a dubious penalty to get them back into the game. A gallop down the left from Paul D, whose pinpoint cross was cruelly blocked by a defender’s arm. Matt tucked away the penalty as usual.

Just before halftime Lord Nelson tried an unusual tactic to try to unsettle the CPR back line: projectile vomiting. Fortunately Garry and Ken were nimble enough to dodge the spray.

The second half started fairly evenly, but again it was Lord Nelson who broke through: a highly debatable offide decision going their way (who was that linesman ?), and the winger tucking it away from a couple of yards.

The third goal effectively killed off the game, and CPR never looked like they would get back into it. Nelson added a fourth from a corner when Garry spotted a 2p coin in the grass, bent over to claim it, and left a nice space on the post for Nelson to head the ball into.

Towards the end, both sides tired in the heat, and the game stretched from end to end. A CPR breakaway down the left wing worked the ball to Matt in the penalty box, and he curled the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net, to make the scoreline a bit more respectable.

Not much good to take from this game, except an impressive debut by Paul’s mate, Nick. We can only improve.

Final score: Lord Nelson 4, CPR 2

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin