After the previous week's tomfoolerous exploits at the Leicester 7s, I was cautiously optimistic about our WorldNet prospects, even after some heavy-duty Friday night chundering. Highlight of the evening was John McCutcheon's new Mohican ("skid mark on his head...")

First thing Saturday morning, a bleary-eyed SBA lined up to face Everton at 9am. Although there were evidently a few hangovers, an early free kick into the box was converted into a goal by the pristine forehead of Mr Orca Winkless. There were a few scares from set pieces, but the SBA hung onto their lead and extended it at the end after a slick counter-attacking was emphatically finished by Midfield Mick. 2-0 to the Sky Blues.

There was quite a large gap until the next game, so a friendly was organised against Dunfermline. Squad rotation included sticking Liam in goal, which went somewhat awry as it turned out. Nevertheless, the SBA gained the lead when Big Jonn Holmes finished from about two yards out, proving that dreams really can come true. In fairness to Liam, neither of the subsequent Dunfermline goals would have been easy to save...

Fortunately, although we'd broken the great SBA WorldNet tradition of losing our first game of the day, the other WorldNet tradition is that, sooner or later, one of the opposition will accidentally score for us. Mr O.G. came to our rescue again on this occasion with a late equaliser after a throw-in from Britney. The match finished two each.

Meanwhile, other results in our group meant that we could qualify for the second round as group winners if we won our second game, against West Brom. Russ promised us all a drink if we pulled it off(!), a vital incentive.

So it proved on this occasion, although the game was goalless at half time, a deep cross from John gave Jed the opportunity to head us into the lead early in the second half. From there on, things got even better. A Banjo cross from a free kick was powerfully headed home by Orca, which must have really pleased the West Brom defender who'd spent the first half trying to wind him up. Jed later added a third, rounding the keeper whilst the defence stood statuesque.

Glory of glories, we had reached the second round with a game in hand. We still wanted to beat Southampton in order to maintain our unbeaten record, although perhaps not quite as much as Everton wanted us to beat them...

Unfortunately, a close, well-fought game was decided in the Saints' favour by a dubious penalty (Banjo said it was dubious, anyway). Although we had lost our unbeaten run, we were still well set for the morrow. In the interim, we reinstated the annual friendly against Leeds, complete with tomfoolerous team randomising and multiple pitch invasions. Although Jed and Orca were on the score sheet again, the Lards edged it 3-2. Britney had a great chance to equalise near the end, but was denied by the fact that the Bodington Hall goals aren't thirty yards tall. A good fixture anyway and we avenged the narrow defeat by winning the subsequent penalty competition 10-9. Most of the team headed for the showers at this point, although a few remained to renew their acquaintance with the Leeds mini-bar.