Kidderminster Fans 12 (twelve) Raging Fever 1

Raging Fever were well and truly humbled by an obviously superior Harriers team at Wilden Village Cricket Club. Having lost the corresponding fixture 9-0 last season, the Oxford fans were happy to see the scoreline goalless midway through the first half. Indeed, Fever looked very comfortable during the opening exchanges, but the first Kidderminster goal opened the floodgates, and it was 3-0 in the blink of an eye.

The only RF goal was hardly a classic ? Steve Fuller scuffed a corner, and as it skimmed along the ground at the near post, John Matthews? predatory instincts allowed him to touch it over the line. Kiddy scored soon after, however, and the score was 4-1 at half time.

It got worse in the second half, with the home team bagging eight more without reply. Not a great day for the Fever, who looked good when they had the ball, but not when they didn?t. Despite conceding so many goals, Danny Wells also made a series of fine saves. Pat Wehmeier had a few shots from long range, some of which were more threatening than others, and Fuller?s customary mazy runs asked some questions of the home defence.

One plus point was the unveiling of Raging Fever?s new kit, a welcome return to Yellow and Blue, and while the home side?s strange choice of colours (yellow and, er, blue) could be used as an excuse for the poor result, the claim would have little basis in fact. At least the ground had its own bar, which enabled some immediate drowning of sorrows. And the trusty cry of ?lose in the morning, win in the afternoon? again came to pass, the day ultimately ending happily for the real Yellows.

RF team: Danny Wells, Martin Brodetsky, Gary Butler, Geoff Carter, Nicky Pear, Pat Wehmeier, Andy Hill, Paul Lucas (Jon Brown), Steve Fuller, John Matthews (Dan Curtis), Gary Silver.

Goal: John Matthews