After the dissapointment of losing to Stewkley it was time to open a whole can full of whoop ass v MK Titans. Trees fielded an attacking line up with a midfield that could easily slot in up front with Pattison, Bruce, Jerome & Nige lining up in the midfield. Trees started well and were knocking the ball around well playing some good football with the Full backs getting involved with some good support play. But just like Stewkley we conceded early on, and again it was our own fault. Terry played a ball back to Jon which Titans striker Simon Milton chased down and whilst the back pass was just about hit hard enough those of us who have seen Jon play for a number of seasons had our hands over our eyes in readiness.

Jon approached the ball with all the confidence of Cloggsy having just demolished a Zinger Burger lining up against Usain Bolt in a 100m sprint. Jon connected with the ball but the connection was poor and Milton was left with an empty net to roll the ball into. But this wasn't going to be another Stewkley debacle as the Trees continued to play some brilliant football and got their just rewards when minutes later the ball fell invitingly for Homer who rocketed the ball into the onion bag with the Keeper left rooted to the spot.

Trees continues to be the better team although there were worrying signs as Milton's movement was causing us problems, plus the defence was not dealing with the Titans aerialy and the ball was allowed to bounce in our half too often from long balls. Jon was also called into action and he pulled off a fingerip save halfway through the first half flinging himself to his right and pulled off another great save after that to keep the Titans out.

But a Trees 2nd goal was always on the cards and it was Juzza who put the Trees ahead from close range. Homer went through on goal and his first effort to score was denied but he stayed calm and played the ball to Juzza who was left with a tap in.

The midfield were playing well with Jerome showing flashes of strength & incisiveness, Nige and Bruce winning the battle in the centre and Pattison was proving a threat out wide and it was Stevie P who set up the 3rd goal. Pattison broke up a Titans attack and fed the ball to Homer who moved the ball onto his left (no I couldn't believe they actually thought he was going to shoot with his right either) and buried it for a 3v1 lead.

Trees picked up some injuries during the game, by this point AC had come off to be replaced by Shaun who was excellent in defence and Juzza had a slight hammy twinge so was replaced by John Hall. The 2nd half was Trees come out the better team and we had chances to put the game away but Homer shot over and Pattison's shot went weakly wide.

Remember Boot Bags? I had one when I was 12, and even then I wouldn't have been seen dead with anything like this, Shrek still has one!

Titans started to apply the pressure and for a long period we had to abandon the pretty football for a more resiliant game as the game started to turn a little nasty. Abuse was directed at the Ref who obviously had not benefited from the Respect to Ref's initiative from the FA and the best insults they could come up with to hurl at Cloggsy (our lino) was "Chunky" and an offer to "Have another Burger". Somehow Cloggsy will try and recover from those cutting comments but the mental scars will be slow to heal.

The Trees rearguard was holding firm and the Titans did not look like getting back in the game until the Ref eventually bought the Titans players 7th dive of the game. Jon had long since recovered from his early mistake and dived to his left to save and also stopped the rebound when it looked certain Milton was going to slam the rebound into the net.

That stop seemed to deflate the Titans and Trees took advantage as what could have been 3v2 turned into 4v1. John Hall was having a growing influence on the game and put Nige through, only for Nige to be tackled by a defender. Nige managed to retrieve the loose ball and continue towards goal when he was upended in the area with a penalty so blatant that even Nige didn't have to milk it.

Homer buried the spot kick to complete his hat-trick and secure the 3 points. But the scoring still wasn't over as Titans scored a scrappy goal as we failed to clear a corner and Iain who came on as sub made it 5 when Nige's looping ball acrioss the goal was knocked back by Homer in the patch of Iain who toe poked it in.

It was a cracking performance by the Trees and those who predicted a poor season for the 1st team in the recent web poll should hang their heads in shame after this perfomance.

MOTM - Homer