The away trip to Gwinear-Churchtown always turns into a scene from Wacky-Racers as the Stones players depart from Threemilestone and jostle for position as we head down the dual carriageway until we realise that nobody actually remembers how to find Gwinear! We then spend the next hour driving around the many pretty back lanes admiring the hedgerows and looking for clues (the Council join in by refusing to put up any road signs that might aid us!) and so eventually the first car arrives at the pub and a few quick calls to various mobiles and the rest of the team are directed to the finish line.

Following last weeks win an unchanged side trotted out for the first half with the subs bench boosted by the rare appearance of the footballing legend that is Mike Waller! Gwinear started with the wind behind them but it was TMS who started the brighter and we took the lead within the first ten minutes when Dan Taylor hit his twentieth league goal of the season. The home side were being pushed back deep into their half and I hadn't actually touched the ball since kick off when Chris Bailey doubled the lead from Anthony Caddy's in swinging corner. This seemed to spur the home side and they started to get into the game but only managed a few long range efforts on goal as the ever dependable back line of Stephens, Jay and Spargo worked tirelessly to break up any attacks. Chris Bailey then grabbed another debatable goal (why I hear you ask is the word debatable so often used for Chris's goals, well a) he claims any goal that he's within 5 feet off! and b) in a group of players all you can actually see is his chrome like dome and we're never sure if it's him of Tim Grose another candidate for the 'Cue Ball' title...) With the three goal cushion we stepped off the gas and this allowed Gwinear their best spell of the half and they forced several free kicks from the edge of the box but I'd like to say I pulled off a string of brilliant saves to deny certain goals but in reality they were all hit straight at me and the superglue I'd applied to my gloves prior to kick off did the job.

The second half kicked off and we'd obviously settled for three-nil because we actually forgot to play any football for the first twenty-five minutes of the half! Gwinear were looking more and more dangerous but still not actually looking to threaten the scoreline when Bailey broke the boredom with a 'handbag' moment, when he took exception to the fourth attempt to bring him down by throwing the ball at the Gwinear players back surely causing a nasty bruise! and was rightly cautioned. Gwinear then ruined my clean sheet by scoring with a cheeky back heel from two yards out and although my 'cat-like' reflexes enabled me to get a hand to it, it bobbled over the line and the comeback was on. And then off again when with Caddy off the park his prodigy Lee Fairley swung in a corner which beat everyone including the keeper and the three goal cushion was restored. It could have been four soon after but Mark Taylor missed a simple header at the back post following a great run and cross from Spargo, this was the cue for the drum roll and Taylor was replaced by Mike Waller and the Stones knew it was in the bag. I actually made a fairly decent save late on but I won't harp on about it.

Jeremy Hocking, Web Manager