Game 4: Vs Real Rationel (sic)

Botley Crüe 3 Vs Real Rationel 2 

Goals: Slater, Micklethwaite, Mastrantone
Assists: Mastrantone, Guerin, Bramwell 

Monday 4th February 2013 is a date that is now destined to be forever etched into
the minds of football fans the world over. Or at least of those living in the West
Oxford suburb of Botley. For that evening saw the debut victory from the Oxford
Pitch Invasion Monday night leagues newest recruits: the boys in red they call
Botley Crue.

On a cold and windy night in Kidlington, Slater swept the team ahead early in the
game after some magic mid-air link up with Mastrantone's chipped ball into the
opposition's penalty area. Micklethwaite gave the opposition a headache all game
with his lighting quick sprints down the left wing, and was rewarded with a well
taken goal for the Crue. Top scorer Mastrantone sealed the win, coolly finishing
into the bottom right in a one on one with the keeper.

Real Rational linked up well and managed to pull a couple of goals back in the game,
but Brian Guerin gave his now customary do or die performance at full back, giving
no quarter to their strikers, and often leading out the Botley attack. He was
complemented by a barnstorming debut from Paul Bramwell, who looked solid at the
back and very good when breaking down the left wing. Tom Fairfield got himself into
some commanding positions in the centre of the park and displayed his usual cool
headed approach, often completely out foxing the opposition with his now legendary
ball killing antics. As ever Ben Piggott commanded his area well and pulled out some
brilliant last gasp saves to keep the Crue on top. A brilliant team performance was
only marred by a foul mouthed rant from skipper Slater, following an opportunist
lunge by a Rational defender. Thankfully the referee saw the funny side and as yet
no post match ban has been meted out against the Scot.

The win not only gives the side their first three points on the board and lifts them
off the foot of the table for the first time this season, but it continues the
team's steady progress from heavy early defeats to increasingly tight scraps that
have culminated in a first hard fought victory for the BC boys. Next week's match
against the bottom of the table Firkin Idiots will show if the Botley boys can keep
up this great momentum.