Greenwich 1 - LCW 0

Lane Cove West lined up confidently in the Greenwich bowl having ground out an impressive victory over Wahroonga in the final pre-season trial the previous weekend.

Greenwich, having been demoted with LCW last year, began the match with equal vigor. Indeed they started the better, opting to throw the ball long from an early stage and put pressure on the Lane Cove defence. An early corner was well defended though as the Cove settled into their game. The first half became a tight affair, but LCW mustered a decent spell of possession midway through the half. This resulted in a quick succession of corners and a sweetly struck effort from Paul's right foot that just crept wide of the top corner.

While Paul had failed to puncture the Greenwich goal, their orc-like number 8 was more successful with Richie's head. In fact Sloth from the Goonies had won the ball cleanly... but only after he pushed his elbow firmly through the back of Ritchie's scalp.

Eventually, despite significant mopping, it was clear that the crimson tide would not abate. Richie was carted to hospital and replaced by Jason at left-back.

When asked by Clive to apologise, Herman Munster raised his hands and applauded. Perhaps this was sarcasm or perhaps he was impressed with Richie's gruesome fountain. In any case the incident should prompt questions about the legality of playing a rabid dog in an ostensibly human event.

The second half began well for Lane Cove. A move progressed down the left of midfield that found Eeles with enough time to set up a drive from Dave. It cleared the bar but appeared to have set the right tone. Appearances can be deceptive.

Greenwich were soon on the attack and passing the ball well through midfield. Despite this, however, LCW were defending well and frustrating the home side. A magnificently timed challenge by Tom on edge of the Lane Cove area seemed to have fizzled one attack but was astonishingly called a foul. The cries of derision (even from Greenwich players who did not want the game settled on such obvious controversy) were still echoing through the rocky walls of the bowl as the free-kick struck the back of the net.

From that point the struggle was desperate. After some hard work on the right of midfield Matt made way for Simon, whose pace threatened to expose their right back. Attacks came from the left too, but Lane Cove too often underestimated the short pitch - the ball running through to the keeper or merely setting up a battle for the strikers: not really a chance.

In truth, the Greenwich goal had banished Lane Cove's hopes. Duncan soon withdrew, due to a recurrence of an injury, to be replaced by Ed - who became the man of the second half with a virtuoso performance between the sticks. Later Clive was shot in both legs by cramp and replaced by Nathan who performed admirably in his second game of the day.

Late on Eeles swung a deft right foot at the ball but failed narrowly to lob the keeper. Alas, with their defence swept efficiently by their number 15, Greenwich held firm and deserved their victory.

The Pictorial Report: