Cassies followed up their 5-1 demolition of Old Mancunians with a comprehensive 6-1 away victory at Horwich after a three week break due to match postponements. In poor conditions on an indifferent pitch Casuals started brightly and attempted to pass the ball around with Justin Parr and Ian Langton winning the majority of the central midfield battles. The new-look strike partnership of Steve Aspin and Baz Fellowes was looking promising with the former going close early on.

Horwich were forcing the defence back but the Casuals back four handled any pressure which came their way, with Chris Hames, in particular, playing well. Casuals broke the deadlock when Justin Parr out-muscled the Horwich midfielder, evaded the backtracking defence and drilled a low left footed shot into the far corner in typical Parr fashion. Minutes later the lead doubled after great work from Andy Walker on the right. His determination and delivery allowed Aspin to slot the ball through for Fellowes who cleverly dinked the ball over the advancing keeper to seemingly put the game to bed.

At 2-0 Cassies were strolling but the home side fortuitously pulled one back after the ball was sent through the middle. After some indecision, keeper Paul Hames bravely advanced to clear but was out-thought by a combination of an unsuspecting mole surfacing and a considerable gust of wind which diverted the ball over his left foot. The striker, who probably felt sympathetic towards the extremely unlucky goalkeeper, clearly felt guilty for placing the ball in the empty net. Some may say Hames was unlucky, others may say his attempted clearance was a bag of shite.

Just before the half time whistle Horwich had increased the pressure on the Cassies goal, but failed to punish them for allowing them back into the game as Valentine and Forshaw and Co snuffed out any danger. As the pressure was mounting Dave Tomlinson decided to emulate his hero, Wayne Rooney after hours of watching his DVDs. Tomlinson tethered the ball in the middle of the park before evading a couple of tackles. The goal-shy full back looked up and spotted the Horwich goalkeeper reading Shoot magazine on the edge of his six yard box. In true predatory style Tomlinson, from a mere 30 yards, lofted a sensual chip into the danger area and the ball evaded the goalkeeper before nestling into the bottom corner. It was Tomlinsons first goal in his three and a half years in a Casuals shirt, and it was a pivotal goal in the game. Hopefully it will be the first of many as Tomlinson demonstrates his ruthlessness in the offensive third.

At half time the visitors could breathe a little easier with the emphasis of the team talk being one of burying the opposition in a critical ten minutes in the second half. Horwich looked to pull another back but Casuals stretched their lead when Barry Fellowes clipped a cross into the danger area. With Steve Aspin lurking the defender felt it was best to slice the ball 30 yards into the air before dipping over the unfortunate keepers head. Fellowes attempted to claim the goal but the Horwich defender was proud of his strike and was anxious to keep the goal for himself.

Aspin was looking dangerous up front and should have scored his first of the game when the excellent Derek Sykes whipped a cross into the box. Aspin directed a header over the bar, ala Haggis three weeks earlier, when it would have been easier to score. Minutes later, however, Aspin linked up well with Fellowes and the former drilled a fierce low shot into the far corner to make it 5-1 and effectively kill the game.

Horwich must have felt that the game was turning into a never ending story and after Michael Lloyd continued his skills skool demonstration by removing his boot and trapping the ball with his sock they must have been urging the final whistle to be blown. Paul Hames atoned for his earlier error with a couple on saves, including one point blank effort. The gods continued to shine on the away side when Baz Fellowes capped an emphatic win when he brought down the ball in the box before delivering a powerful volley which clipped the crossbar and both posts before crossing the line. Whether it would have gone in if the posts had been straight is another matter, but Fellowes was pleased to add to his ever increasing goal tally.

There were numerous contenders for man of the match but the award duly went to the outstanding Justin Parr.