CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, JOKERS TO THE RIGHT, HERE I AM STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU

Wickla travelled up the M11 to Whitechurch Park for a middle of the table clash. As their firsts were playing earlier in the day we thought they might be travelling with a packed team.

It was a beautiful spring day and the thirds local derby with Rovers provided a great curtain raiser for the main event. Wing Commander Rath put the team through their paces in the wings of the 2nd Car Park despite the cheek of the Captain not paying attention to orders.

Insubordination was a running theme of the day. Victor O'Shea stepped up to do the toss despite the skipper having not lost a toss this season. This was significant as he lost it and Wickla opted to play with a dipping sun to their backs. It was hard to distinguish red from orange shirts in this low sun. But we were playing up the hill first half.

The first quarter it was all Wicklow with a young speedy forwarding line testing a grisly slow defence (apart from Jake Tipping). Luke Stevens in goal was called upon to make a few great saves. In fact it was the Luke Stevens Victor O'Shea combo which kept the Reds goal intact on a couple of occasions. So it was against the run of play that Corinthian's first move found Simon Comerford who crossed accurately to Ben Phelan who tucked away a finish from the centre of the D. 1-0 end of first quarter.

As the title suggests middle was another theme and the 4ths Midfield comprising of Ben Phelan, Ed Bourke, Jacob Minehane and Billy O'Riordan (oh and even Harks when he came on) put in a great shift today. Ed Bourke was making late leads in the channels and showing for the ball and finding space. The skipper copped on eventually and started to find him and so trying to avoid his long ball tendencies, but it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Corinthians passing and linking up play was very good and the changing of the point of attack was much better. Eventually after a shemozzle in the D Ben Phelan found the target again. 2-0 up at Half Time. Sun what sun?

When the teams turned at half time the sun had almost set and the crowd of five began to shiver on the wall with one spectator heading early to the first Saturday of the month. In the third quarter Wicklow made a few changes including bringing on a sweeper who started to throw overheads. They also pushed up in midfield so there was less space. They started turning up the heat and the defence was now under sustained pressure for a period. Eventually the Reds broke the shackles and Simon Comerford put a cross in for International top scorer on sun break and January draw winner Geyser who took all his fake tan off diving at the back post and missed. He was afraid he would have to use his hard won €300 on skin surgery. 2-0 up end of third quarter.

As the mid-field was beginning to run out of steam the skipper decided to bring on Justin Van der Spuy who tried to cry off because of a cold (What?) earlier in the day. He was brought up to warm the bench and to make sure his cold got worse. We were glad to have him and Alan Rath was able to step in to midfield to shore it up with JVDS slipping into left back. Corinthians goal was living a charmed life with short corners being taken off the post and the post coming to their rescue. Lucky Luke was to keep a clean diaper.

The 4ths pride themselves in their short corner routine which they practice for hours in training in mid-week. So the short corners were all arranged before the match. But the bould Victor O'Shea was having other ideas and with insubordination again stepped up and scattered everyone. He beat the first runner out and topped it which made the ball loop on to the back board. So 3-0 at Full Time a very good win.

And finally Crimecall reported that the man reported missing last month has been found. He has such a beautiful face that he requires a mask to protect it.

The lights were put out and they all lived happily ever after.

No game next week so we can watch the England rugby game.