Line-up (4-4-2):
Barrasso, Evans (Murray, 65), Rogers, Eyre, Johnston (Smith, 55), S. Newman, N. Newman, Johnson (Fulton, 45), Ameri, Kuczynski, Wills

As usual CPR had to to work hard for a win against Viva, but we created the clearer chances throughout and there could be no real argument about the result (although Viva certainly tried their best). It was an emotional afternoon for Viva as Haydn played his last game before heading home to Oz. The big man has always been a great opponent to play against and we wish him all the best.

The game kicked off in driving rain with Viva shooting down the slight slope and with the wind behind them. They weren’t slow to take advantage and had CPR pinned in their own half for the opening 10 mins. Although they couldn’t find a clear opening they did force a series of corners and their superior height advantage caused a few nervous moments as they outjumped their CPR marker but failed to find the target.

Gradually, however, CPR began to come into the game, wisely playing the ball around on the deck in the face of the strong wind. The defence and midfield were combining well, sweeping the ball from side to side and working the ball up the pitch before releasing Stuart and Richard down the channels. The front two were looking lively and created a couple of chances for themselves by nicking the ball off the Viva back four. However, the Viva keeper came off best against Stu in the one-on-ones. (For now).

By 20 mins CPR had carved out several chances, but they had a real scare before they opened the scoring. Haydn had a free header from a set piece and Danny B plunged to his left to make a great save. With the adrenalin still pumping CPR took the lead. The goal came when Paul won the ball in the centre circle and drove a long ball down the right wing. Stuart raced on to it and his curling cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by the Viva centre-half. [Stuart please note there's no way you're claiming that one, by the way].

Viva still looked dangerous from set pieces so CPR continued to turn the screw as they knew they’d have to score again. They came close when Steve’s throw was flicked on across the box by Nick but it fell just behind Rich and he put it over as he stretched to get his foot to it. There was some great interplay between the midfield and strikers – even Evans was seen lurking around the penalty box – but Viva were organised as ever and managed to keep CPR out for a while.

However, the pressure did tell before long and CPR added a second. Jim won the ball down the left and found Stu midway inside the Viva half. Instinctively Stuart played a lovely first-time pass behind the Viva right-back with the outside of the boot, and Rich raced down the line and fired in a fierce shot which beat the keeper at his near post.

CPR then made the cardinal sin of taking a breather and Viva came straight back into the game. The goal was very simple in execution: a quick throw-in, a flicked-on header into the box and the CPR defence reacted too late to stop a Viva striker thumping past Danny from close range.

After this goal the match evened out again. Both teams had a fair amount of the ball but Viva threatened more from set pieces while CPR looked the more dangerous from open play. Aware that Stuart and Rich could outpace the Viva defence, CPR had been very direct which meant Amir and Jase had had little opportunity to shine on the flanks despite all their hard work. But Jase almost got on the scoresheet on the half hour when Stuart laid the ball back and he thumped in a powerful drive which the keeper theatrically punched away, Euro-style.

A few minutes later CPR opened up a two-goal lead again, and it was all down to Stuart’s persistence this time. Chasing a lost cause down the left wing, he harassed the Viva full back into giving up possession and skipped around him before going into a mazy run across the box. As he slalomed past one defender after another it seemed a question of when, not if, he’d be pulled down for a pen, but the young Scot stayed on his feet before eventually deciding he’d better stop arsing about and slotting it low into the corner.

Andi Fulton replaced Jase on the left at half-time, and pretty soon CPR were forced into another change as Paul stretched to make a clearance and pulled a hamstring. Fortunately CPR had an experienced sweeper in Alex Smith on the sidelines… when we could eventually find him. (”Where the *** is Alex ?!”)

CPR now had the wind and slope but it actually seemed more of a hindrance as the passes which had released the strikers in the first half were now carrying too far. Both teams struggled to get any fluency together as the match developed into a hard-fought slog in midfield. As usual Steve Newman revelled in the rain and mud and physical contest, and the big man was a real driving force keeping CPR going in the second half.

CPR hadn’t really threatened the keeper in the second half but they did manage to force a series of corners and free kicks, and it was from one of these that they stretched their lead. From 25 yards out on the left wing, Nick Newman flighted a lovely teasing cross into the box which was just begging to be put in. From out of the gloom Andi Fulton leapt like a Scots salmon to meet it, his glancing header steering the ball into the net.

At 4-1 CPR should have been home safe but once again there was a feeling that they eased up just a little and Viva came at them once again. Viva had made a couple of subs who added some strength and pace to their attack, and they began to cause CPR some problems. They got a foothold in the game once again when they pulled the CPR defence out of shape and Alex’s stretched clearance fell only to a Viva midfielder. He played the ball behind the CPR defence and their striker who’d remained just onside ran on and stroked the ball past Danny.

Having pulled back to 4-2 Viva now had their tails up and believed they could get on level terms. The next 10 mins were edgy, as Viva were first to everything and CPR struggled to recover some momentum. Play was centred around the CPR penalty box and the defence had to make some important interventions to keep Viva out. It was at this point that John Andrews took up his stance behind the CPR goal; a psychological masterstroke. The CPR defence just had to take one look at their spiritual leader in his bunnet and offical England tracksuit, and they grew in strength knowing that Viva would not – could not – pass.

CPR weathered the storm of Viva pressure and with just 10 mins to go they scored the fifth which sealed the match. They won a corner which Viva cleared midway into their own half, but Nick picked up the loose ball and sent another curling cross straight back into the penalty box. The keeper looked favourite to collect but he was disconcerted as Andi went up alongside him and and he spilled the cross. The ball landed straight at the feet of fox-in-the-box goalsniffer extraordinaire BGA, who’d been following up and tapped the ball home. (Although he did confess later he wasn’t even sure which way he was facing at the time).

Another good, efficient display from CPR to win the three points in difficult conditions. We could probably have tied up the match a bit earlier than we did, but we were resilient when we needed to be and it’s plain that the belief and conviction is growing. Next up, we go head-to-head against the Geordies.

Final score: Viva Capri 2, CPR 5

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin