This game was a little bit different to any normal game; Rusty aka Shaun Ryan had a little surprise for everyone!

We arrived at Sennleys Park as per usual about 9:30am and started getting ready for the game, but for some reason we were wearing the new Carling kits. Looking over at the pitch there was a lot of movement so everyone had the suspicion Carling were coming to watch, this turned out to be true, but there was a lot more to it than that! Walking over to the field there were photographers, cameras and billboards around our pitch! Excited, we began to warm up. Then the army arrived... as promised we would have over 200 supporters cheering us on and they loved it! With mixed songs varying from 'LONGBRIDGE TILL I DIE' to 'MIGHT MIGHTY LONGBRIDGE' as well as fair amount of taunts directed at the opposition.

As the game was about to start, a Carling logo was overlaid onto the centre circle of the pitch. When were ready to kick off the teams were lead on to the pitch side by side behind the referee. They lined up around the centre circle, waiting, wondering what was going to happen. On stepped a nice looking lady to sing us the national anthem. As she finished her last line, fireworks began to go off behind the players. What a mad morning!

The game started with 'The Bridge' kicking up hill, straight away there was a goalmouth scramble and the ball fell to Tom Carr to do again what he did the week before - back of the net! 1-0 to the bridge. As the ball hit the back of the net the music started and the stadium announcer informed us Tom has scored. This was repeated for every scorer thereafter. As the half went on the game got a bit scrappy, Longbridge giving away possession far too easily, and conceding a lot of silly free kicks. Close to the end of the first half, this culminated in Mike chopping their centre forward down in the penalty area. Hellenic were awarded a penalty and the forward stepped up to take the kick... but he missed it, the ball coming back off the post! Longbridge were let off the hook and that's how the half ended.

Calming words at half time from the manager seemed to settle the team down a bit, they went out in the second half and just enjoyed the game. Joynesy and Alex dominated in the middle pulling all the strings and it wasn't long before 'The Bridge' doubled their lead; a corner floated into the box led to a bit of a scramble but yet again it was Tom Carr who tapped the ball into the net from a couple of yards.

The game wasn't over though and within minutes Hellenic pulled a goal back, scrappy again with the ball bouncing around the Longbridge penalty area leaving an easy tap in for their big striker: 2-1 to 'The Bridge'.

After missing chances in the first half it was time for Kane to make his mark on the game. With only 20 minutes left Lee brought the ball forward laying it off to Dave, as he carried on, Dave gave him the ball back. He then whipped in the cross for Kane to tap in at the back post. After that Kane scored a succession of goals including a wonder goal where he took the ball past 3 or 4 players bobbing and weaving until he calmly slotted home past the keeper. Kane then completed his hat-trick, scoring while the keeper lay injured after a 50-50 challenge. At 5 - 1 the Hellenic's heads dropped as they realised they were beaten. Kane went on to score his fourth of the day and 30th for the season.

Then, Rusty and Pollock came on to rest some tired legs, at 6-1 you would have thought "The Bridge" were done, but with 5 minutes of the game left, Joe received the ball on the edge of the box, he floated in a cross and there was Rusty waiting on the edge of the 6 yard box. The ball glanced off his head and onto the defenders' with the ball ending up in the back of the net. Some were unsure whether it was an own goal but he claimed it making the final score 7-1.

A great performance in the second half meant a well deserved victory for 'The Bridge'. Many thanks to Carling for a great day!

Written by Shaun Ryan, player