(4-4-2)

Andrews, Cowdery, Bruni, Smith, Dawson, Danieli, Johnson, Newman, Fulton (Walsh, 55), Ameri, Davis

CPR badly underestimated a talented I.S.H. team, and paid the price.

CPR went into the game bouyed up by their recent good form, and it looked as though the run would continue when they struck early. Luca hit a fabulous 40-yard pass to Andy Fulton on the left wing, Andy controlled it instantly and rolled it inside to Chris, and Chris dummied his marker before firing into the corner of the net. Great start, but from here on it got much worse.

After the goal CPR seemed to switch off, expecting another rout a la Earlsberg Eagles. However, I.S.H. came right back at them and had CPR pinned back under heavy pressure for the next 20 mins. They got the goal their play deserved when their pacy left-winger managed to nip in between Alex and John to catch a long ball and toe-poke the ball into the net.

Towards the end of the first half CPR came back into things, and probably had the better opportunies, albeit from set-pieces. Amir had a shot well-saved by the ISH keeper and Steve’s long throws created plenty of goalmouth incidents, but the teams went in 1-1 at the half.

CPR now knew they were in a game, but they still seemed unable to raise themselves to the challenge. It was I.S.H. who came out the blocks first in the second half, looking far more mobile and purposeful than their lethargic opponents.

The warning signs were growing, as in one move ISH rapped the ball against John’s right-hand post and were now attacking in waves, outnumbering the CPR back four time and again. So it was no suprise when they got their second: CPR failed to clear a penalty-box skirmish, their winger got to the right-hand touchline and floated over a cross which their forward nodded in.

During that move Andy Fulton had gone down with a knee injury, and Steve was also beginning to be hampered by knee and ankle pains. Unfortunately the CPR bench was light in numbers so the big man had to hobble on.

I.S.H. now had their tails up and were swamping a demoralised CPR, for whom nothing was going right. There were a number of close shaves before the third goal, a simple finish for the ISH winger after John had beaten out a shot from 20 yards.

The fourth goal for ISH really summed up the afternoon: the ISH right-winger nipped in to intercept some comedy passing from CPR, raced down to the byline and crossed for an incoming midfielder to slot home.

By this time CPR were just praying for the final whistle, but there was to be more drama before the end. In a vain attempt to rally his flagging side, Paul did his best impression of Julian Dicks and put two of the opposition into orbit within the space of a minute. Sadly, this did nothing to halt the now-rampant ISH who added a fifth by strolling down the CPR right and walking the ball into the net.

A bad day all round, but let’s hope that CPR can learn from it. Lack of match practice certainly will not have helped, but where was a touch of complacency in their approach to this game, which will have to be eliminated to get a result again Mayfair.

Final score: I.S.H. 5, CPR 1

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin