Fever bows

Raging Fever FC suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday,going down 3-1 to a strong Yorkie Bars outfit. The game started slowly, not to mention half an hour late, with RF failing to get out of their own half in the opening ten minutes. However, the rest of the first half was an absorbing contest, as both teams grew in confidence and passed the ball around nicely. The Fever were in the ascendancy, and Gary Silver hit a post and the bar as the match became one-way traffic in the run up towards half-time.

The Oxford team were disappointed to be level at the break, and the second half started in similar fashion, but the finishing touch proved elusive in a series of attacks which just failed to bring the opening goal. As the half wore on, the Yorkie Bars' superior fitness began to show (they train together every week, you know), but the opening goal was still against the run of play. The RF defence and midfield were slow to regroup after yet another sortie up the pitch, leaving too much space for the Yorkie Bars to break into and score. To make matters worse, exactly the same happened only two minutes later, and Raging Fever were stunned to find themselves 2-0 down midway through the second half.

Unbowed, RF continued to press and a goal brought them back into the game courtesy of Gary Silver, who reacted to a rebound to turn the ball into the net. They then confidently pressed forward in search of an equaliser, but this didn't come. Indeed the match ended badly as a defensive lapse on the edge of the box gifted the Yorkie Bars the opportunity of a third goal, which was taken with a classy finish. Long range efforts from Gez Foster and Dan Curtis were not enough to rescue the game.

The result was very harsh on Raging Fever, who battled throughout andpassed the ball well at times. However, the absence of recent scoringsensation John Matthews was compounded by the fact that Gary Silver was carrying a leg injury, and the goals just didn't come. Thanks to everyone for making it to York, and let's hope for a return to winning ways whenever anyone organises another fixture.

Team: Joel Harrison, Chris Dammers, Paul Soper, Tim Ringer, Gary Butler, Jon Brown, Gez Foster, Dan Curtis, Grimsby Barry, Gary Silver, Rob Curtis.