Aston Tirrold 4 Raging Fever 8

Raging Fever returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory against Aston Tirrold on an overcast morning at the foot of the Berkshire Downs.

New manager Nick Wehmeier had a strong squad to select from, despite the lack of a goalkeeper. Stuart Burson, John Matthews and Rob Muskett each had a 30 minute stint between the posts as the depth of Fever's squad was exhibited in a manner few believed possible.

Fever have a strong record against the villagers and got off to a flying start. George Dugdale, being deployed in a central midfield role, hooked Paul Lucas' early throw into the path of Rob Muskett. The striker was denied by the Tirrold goalkeeper, but Dugdale was on hand to slot the rebound low into the net, past a defender on the line with the goalkeeper stranded. The perfect start.

It could have been even better for Fever had Muskett been able to tap into an empty net from two yards out, but the bounce of the ball caught the returning striker out. Muskett's moment was still to come.

Tirrold were looking to pass the ball as they attacked down the slope and were on level terms moments later. A long ball was not dealt with by Fever and a Tirrold striker raced clear, before slotting past Burson in the Fever goal.

The hosts were not level for long, as Fever sprung their own counter-attack. Dugdale won a challenge in midfield, with Matthews driving forward with the loose ball. The striker's through-ball was perfectly weighted for his strike-partner Muskett to poke past the advancing goalkeeper to open his tally for the morning.

Moments later, Muskett doubled his tally, slotting home from close range. You've got to be there to score them…

The half hour mark saw the arrival of Mike Connolly and Andy Clyde as Wehmeier rung the changes. However, it was Aston Tirrold who go the next goal, thanks to a debatable decision from the home referee. Robb Milne looked to use his strength to win the ball as he went shoulder to shoulder with the home striker, but was adjudged to have done so unfairly. The penalty was powered home with Matthews helpless to prevent Tirrold from pulling a goal back.

As we are often told, the world is against Fever winger James Longshaw. If this claim is doubted (as so many of Longshaw's claims are), the visitor's fourth will form a large part of his case. Muskett's goal-bound header was blocked by a defender's hand, with the referee blowing for a penalty before Longshaw slammed the loose ball home. To compound his misery, Wehmeier called rank on the spot kick, firing low into the bottom corner.

Shortly before the interval, Muskett completed a hat-trick with a combined distance of 3 yards. Pat Wehmeier's cross was headed towards the far post by James Longshaw, with Muskett doing the honours. Naturally, Longshaw's header was likely to go in unassisted, but the record books will not show this.

There was still time for a sixth Fever goal in the first half. Longshaw, spurred on by injustice, beat his man on the wing, before giving the ball to Connolly to do the same. His deep cross lured the goalkeeper from his line, before Pat Wehmeier thumped a volley into the open net from the edge of the area to make it 6-2 at the turnaround.

Tirrold made some tactical changes, with two energetic midfielders increasing their influence in the game. They were unlucky not to pull a goal back after an almighty goalmouth scramble, but the ball stayed the right side of the line from a Fever perspective.

Much to his clear displeasure (unsurprising from a player citing Craig Bellamy among his favourite footballers), Dugdale was shifted back to the right wing when he returned to the field. However, it was his pass that led to Fever's seventh. A flighted ball was chested down by Connolly, who was then buffeted to the ground before he could strike for goal. Matthews stepped forward to dispatch the third penalty of the afternoon.

Tirrold were able to pull two goals back in quick succession towards the end of the game. Twice set-pieces were floated into the Fever six-yard box, with limited resistance as a free man headed home on each occasion.

In the dying moments, Connolly deservedly got on the score-sheet himself, tucking home a John Matthews pull-back to complete the scoring.

12 goals, three penalties, a hat-trick and plenty of incident. Fever can take plenty of positives from the performance ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Raging Fever: Stuart Burson, Geoff Carter, Robb Milne, Nick Holloway, Paul Lucas, James Longshaw, George Dugdale, Nick Wehmeier, Pat Wehmeier, John Matthews, Rob Muskett, Andy Clyde, Mike Connolly.

Goals: Muskett (3), Dugdale, N Wehmeier, P Wehmeier, Matthews, Connolly.