Kicking off the second half of the season with a bang, Middle Park 3rds launched an outright assault on Altona from the get go.

With the colossus of a ‘keeper Ian Chaplin returning to the fold and a Mark Hoey turning up sober as a judge, the 3rds were in a positive mindset from the outset. Numbers were thin for the team who called upon the help of outstanding club servants Teon and Ally Baron to sure up the squad.

The first half saw the 3rds a little shaky on the ball at times but soon found their feet and excellent link up play in the middle of the park saw Adam Bell cross deep from the left to find James unmarked at the back post to fire home for the first goal of the game. A few loose chances for Altona came along with Chaplin unfased at the back saving low with his feet then a diving outstretched save just before half time.

The second half saw the Parkers really stamp their authority on the game and confidence was high. Simon Tortoise saw a dipping 30 yard shot spilled by the Altona ‘keeper which led him to try again and his rasping shot sailed into the top corner with the whole team amazed at what they saw. Teon with his cameo appearance up front made his mark with a deft chip over the keeper to make it 3-0.

Simon finished off his top performance with a cross-come-shot from a free kick on the left.

The Parkers saw out the rest of the game with ease and were full value for their 4-0 win. Other highlights of the game include shocking refereeing by Norman Wisdom and Cooksey delivering a deft right hook to the Altona winger.

ATT: 8

Yellow cards:
Gregoire (Dissent)

Goals (assists):
Battersby (assist Bell)
Tortorici (unassisted)
Haywood (assist Barron)
Tortorici (assist Barron)

Squad:
Chaplin
Cooksey
Lavity
Helleborg
Hoey
Tortorici
Costello
Dorel
Battersby
Bell
Elly
Haywood
Barron