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Tractor FC [6] v's Vipers FC [7], 4th February, 2002.
Vipers Strike to Seal Narrow Victory

Despite ugly scenes of spitting rain, Monday's much-hyped match between the Tractor Boys and the Vipers began promptly at 7pm. Missing one man for the first 5, the Boyz we did well to absorb early pressure but it wasn't long before some neat finishing by the visitors slipped 3 or 4 between the keeper's legs. Only then did the Tractor Boys shake off their agricultural origins and without so much as an EC subsidy, come out the blocks with all gun's blazing.

Battling cyclonic wind conditions the Boyz pulled it back to 4-5 when, with 12 minutes to go, the Gaffer missed a penalty and Steelo lobbed the keeper. It should be said that this was quite an achievement when one considers that the goals are only 1 m high and that Jamie, at 6'3, was not only the tallest player on the pitch, but also standing on his line. This gave the Viper's a 2-goal cushion, which was reduced to 1 before Harry Goad finally blasted the ball out of the stadium whereupon an under pressure Viper squad were only too happy to call it a day.

'Tonight I saw the seeds of some great players to come!', remarked a grinning Tractorette, whilst others in the crowd voiced the opinion that they'd experienced better shooting, 'out vole hunting.'

Another match will be scheduled before the end of the season, most probably in early March.

For the Tractors: Neil Bailey, Saddam, Del Crispio, Oli Barrat, Harry, Jamie and Me