Feltham Blues 2 Guildford Saints Blues 0

The omens for our progress in this season's Cup competition did not look good when we lost our goalkeeper and captain 24 hours before kick off. To then lose our best defender and vice-captain two hours before kick off as well left me feeling very depressed about the impending game against the previously unbeaten Division Four leaders. To our credit though the boys started very well and we were the dominant team in the first half, controlling possession and creating a number of very good chances for Ellis, Scott & Ed. However the Feltham goalkeeper was in good form and their goal led a charmed life.

In the second half it was hugely disappointing to see our performance drop away so dramatically. Although clearly still the better footballing side we look very tired and sluggish - quite often second to the challenge and allowing our opponents far too much time to control the ball and turn. Despite having discussed the need to keep the game in front of our defenders, Feltham were quite regularly able to turn us by playing a long ball over the top and it was almost inevitable that the otherwise excellent stand in 'keeper Alex O would eventually get beaten when a breakaway run and shot could only be parried straight onto the feet of an oncoming Feltham team mate who couldn't miss with the goal at his mercy. We struggled to match Feltham's effort after this and, although Jack scraped a shot just wide late on, we never really looked like scoring in the second half. When Feltham got their second with 10 minutes left - another ball over the top that left our defence standing - then there was no way back for the Saints Blues.

Despite this being an all round "bad day at the office" for the Blues I was truly alarmed by the apparent poor fitness and stamina of the players today. Our midfield were absolutely woeful in the second half after being excellent in the first... making me think that the two Mike's and Ed, in particular, need to realise that they must work on their stamina training more. As such important players to the team they must last 80 minutes not just 40! My big thanks to Alex though today for again stepping in to the breach left by the injury prone Nathan, and performing so well in goal. And to brother Tom who was the only player that could truly come of the pitch yesterday saying that he had given everything he had for the team - a colossal captains performance!

Man of the Match - Tom Oldland