A Welcome to everyone from Romulus for this evening's delayed Bank Holiday fixture that sees both sides with a perfect points record after the first week of the season. I suspect that it will probably be closely fought encounter as we establish to battle out some early season supremacy.

Last Saturday saw us win our opening home game of the season with a deserved 2-1 result over Coventry Marconi. I must say that some of their antics left a sour taste in the mouth and made the result even more pleasurable. I was very pleased with our self-discipline in the face of such provocation and it bodes well for how we conduct ourselves in the forthcoming season.

The game didn't start well for us when Paul Probert went down with a rib injury after four minutes and had to be replaced. Gagy Bedi went to left back and Lyndon Price moved to centre back with John Adams coming into midfield. Eight minutes later and it was all change again as Mark Langley had to be replaced due to a knee injury. Ian Millward moved to right back and John Adams to centre midfield with Wayne Healey making his first appearance of the season when he entered on the right side of midfield. All the changes disrupted our early flow when we had been applying good pressure to the Marconi back line.

However, soon afterwards, Mark Bellingham continued his excellent early season form when he latched onto a headed flick on from Steve Piearce and buried the ball in the back of the net from an acute angle. Unfortunately we gifted Marconi an equalizer shortly afterwards when Wayne Healey pulled back an attacker in the box and things were all square. We edged the remainder of the half restricting Marconi to a couple of long-range shots.

The second period saw us halving the better of things and we were eventually rewarded with 20 minutes remaining when Steve Piearce broke clear on the right and saw his cross handled in front of goal and Mark Bellingham struck home the resulting penalty. Whilst Marconi applied some pressure afterwards they did not have any clear chances although Ross Bate did climb to make a brilliant one handed save from a 30 yard curling shot that was going into the top corner. Mark Bellingham was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick when he struck the post shortly before that.

Overall, an excellent win with good discipline in our pattern of play and a very good work ethic.

We know that Romulus are a good attacking unit as can be seen from the eight goals they have scored in their two opening games. It will be interesting to see how both defences handle the opposition attack.

Paul Shaw is available tonight and for the first time this season I should have a full complement of fit and competitive subs on the bench. It looks like Paul Probert may have a broken or cracked rib but we are still awaiting the final prognosis on that one. Mark Langley is injured but was unavailable anyway as he is on holiday for the week. I am very disappointed for Paul because he has brought much needed stability to the defence since his arrival at the club and I am certain he will have an important part to play in our season.

Next Saturday sees us take on Bolehall Swifts at Tally Ho before we enter a run of five games away from home which includes four league fixtures and a FA Vase tie against the winners of Sandiacre Town or Teversal, both of the Central Midlands League.

A mention must go to the Reserves who continued their fine start to the season with a 1-1 away draw against Fernhill Heath Sports. Overall, things are bubbling along quite nicely at the club and we will be trying our hardest not to let the bubble burst tonight. We hope you enjoy the game and that you will be down here next Saturday for the Bolehall fixture.

Jim Scott