A cold, wet morning on the Imps, as the much fancied new boys in Section D the Ship Inn (Handbridge) were the visitors. The Ultras on the Curva Mollington were shocked to hear that Kevin Thomas was missing from the ISA line up, his best mate Steve Painter offering the excuse that 'he has got himself his second ever bird, and he is in Stockport with her'. I am sure he had to work or something really.

With Thomas and Musgrave (wife trouble) absent, it was neccessary for Brazier to change his winning side. Caswell was unfortunate to be dropped, with Sandbach replacing him in right midfield. Manager Brazier and Scott Ditchfield were centre midfield, whilst Tommy Hollinger started alongside Andy Johnson up front. 

The shuffled pack took a while to settle, but continue to grow defensively. Jon Hocking's confidence improves with every game, Steve Painter and David Melson are really beginning to gel, and full back Rob Reay has added so much ability to the left hand side. It felt, with Ditchfield and Brazier pulling the strings, that a chance would not be far away. That chance fell to Andy Johnson who pinged it past the keeper for one-nil. The Blues continued to press, and soon went two up when Johnson doubled his tally firing low past the goalkeepers outstretched right hand.

A sliding lunge by the centre half brought Tommy Hollinger down for a penalty soon after, which the Blacon postman slid away nicely for three nil. The ISA really continued to bear down on their visitors, but when Johnson picked the ball up thirty yards out nothing looked on. Andy then set off on a run which saw him cut right across the pitch past four defenders before bladdering the ball into the net. An absolute cracker for four nil. Just before the break the Ship grabbed a life belt with a great left foot volleyed finish for four one at half time.

The gaffers half time speech revolved around the ISA of old. about how 'we would let a three goal lead go last season, concentration is paramount etc'... He was not about to let complacency set in. Forced into taking keeper Green off at half time, Neil Howell came on in place of stand in keeper Hollinger for the second half. The midfield was livened up with the introduction of Alun Griffith for Sandbach after ten minutes, as until then the visitors had had the better of the second half. A fifteen minute magic show was to end the match as a competition.

First of all an inch perfect Melson pass found Johnson away. Five one. Johnson then made the most of a defensive slip up to make it six. Then Neil Howell battled his way to win a ball off the Ship centre half and goalie and rolled in number seven. The eighth was a bit special. Howell was unceremoniously dumped on the ground by a couple of defenders, Steve Painter was sizing up the free kick when Andy Johnson stepped up before his captain and arrowed the ball into the top left hand corner of the keepers net. The keeper was statuesque in his attempts to stop it. ie, he never. Man of the match Johnson still had time to beat the keeper for the ninth before being substituted to a heroes welcome. Full time, nine one.

The scoreline maybe flatters the home side a bit, but it was undoubtedly the bestter side that won. The welcome return of Scott Ditchfield, and the continuous workrate of Paul Brazier gave the ISA it's strongest centre, and with Reay, Melson, Hocking and Painter outstanding at the back, the signs are good for the Blue and Whites.