News: Brave Blues lose again

Mill Street Blues 3 - No Eye Deer 4

A MILL Street Blues team missing three regular first team players lost 4-3 in a fiery affair at London City Powerleague last night.

The Blues will be bitterly disappointed after being 3-2 up at half-time, two soft goals proving the difference in the end.

Joe Cooke was out with knee troubles, while Emilio Caturla and Tom Hope didn't make the team bus, citing personal reasons for their absence. 

But the Blues regrouped as well as they could, and if luck had been on their side some of their speculative chances may have gone in and changed the result. 

The Deers took the lead despite the first period being dominated by a rampant Blues side, and unfortunately for the home team, this was the case with every goal they conceded. 

Dave Jameson boosted his credentials for a move further up the park after he equalised with an excellent finish soon after. 

It didn't take long for the Deers to get back in front with another soft goal, but this was to be their last goal of the half as Mill Street began to stamp their authority on affairs.

Skipper Matt Hardy - so often the 'go-to' man for the Tower Bridge team - soon levelled things up with his ninth of the season, shocking a complacent No Eye Deer team. 

Things began to look really good when Simon Perry broke his duck for the season with a predatory finish to give the Blues the lead at half-time.

The second half was a brutal affair and it almost boiled over on a number of occasions. Charging runs from Jameson, Perry and Nick Pearce were all ended by cynical challenges.

But try as they may Mill Street could not add to their first-half goals and despite the heroics of keeper Chris de Kock, they managed to leak two more. 

Evergreen midfielder Andy Mason pulled a thigh muscle which kept him quiet for most of the second half but despite the injuries this was a positive performance from the Blues - energetic, gutsy and full of effort. 

Pearce said: "The boys enjoyed their run out tonight. If we can combine tonight's effort with a bit more thought in the final third of the pitch we'll run away with this league.

"It's not happening at the moment, but the lads who played tonight have done their chances of keeping their places the world of good."

News: Big defeat snow joke for Blues

Super JC 7 - Mill Street Blues 3

MILL STREET BLUES were put to the sword by an efficient Super JC outfit in a snowy game at City Powerleague.

Skipper Matt Hardy grabbed a brace - continuing his impressive goal scoring form - and midfielder Joe Cooke scored his first of the season. But these were the only positives in an otherwise poor performance.

The Blues began efficiently and kept a relatively tight ship in the first ten minutes. However, a couple of defensive lapses combined with some unsure goalkeeping from manager Nick Pearce meant that they went into the break 2-0 down.

The second half allowed the Blues to showcase some of their attacking flair and Hardy and Cooke benefited.

Dave Jameson and Tom Hope defended with gusto, but five-a-side being the game it is, goals are always likely, and the Blues failed to score enough of their own.

There were chances for Mill Street to get back into the game but Super JC were a well-drilled outfit who never looked anything other than comfortable.

Veteran midfielder Andy Mason was disappointed but said: "You shouldn't take defeats like this to heart. The camp is feeling a bit low but we'll get them next time

"We're going to train hard, with 'high-octane' being the buzzword. I'd give my life for this team and I'm not ready to throw the towel in."

Manager Pearce was philosophical and said: "We were missing Simon Perry and Chris de Kock, and Emilio Caturla has only been with us for two weeks now. We were a bit green, and this wasn't helped with me between the sticks.

"I hope everyone reports for duty with a clean bill of health next week and we can start to really challenge."