A key fixture for this season rolled around in the shape of Fulham, a very decent side who beat us 2-0 at their ground last year so ASB were looking to make sure we didnt have a repeat of this scoreline and any remote chance of us winning the league would hinge on beating them by a comfortable score.

The squad gradually arrived at Colliers wood and when Inga pulled up in a taxi he had some bad news for us as Rob, Slouch, Tim and Rob had pulled out that morning but we still had a strong squad when you looked at it, possibly one of the strongest of the season. Once everyone was kitted up and out on the pitch Inga announced the
starting line up which looked like this:

GK: Naz
RB: Orv
CB: Peewee
CB: Benson and Hedges
LB: Tina
RM: Babyface
CM: Donny
CM: Mini Mee
LM: JJ
ST: Gav
ST: Hippy

We had a strong bench as well with Woody, Immy and newcomer Lee ready to come
on at any point.

So Fulham kicked off the first half and were passing the ball about well but ASB were always snapping at their heels and we soon stamped our authority on the game not allowing Fulham to settle into a rhythm. Not long into the game one of the Fulham centre mids almost broke through but Donny got a last ditch tackle in which unfortunately resulted in him having to go off injured.

Fulham pushed thing at first and could have indeed probably should have had a penalty when one of their forwards was tripped up as he went to shoot, but it seemed lady luck was smiling on us today.

ASB were using the width well with JJ on the left tormenting the Fulham right back with Tina pushing up from left back to support the attacks. Donny and Eddie were dominating in the middle with Eddie sprayed the ball about almost at will with Donny breaking up any Fulham attack and winning every header that came his way. Nick and
Orv on the right were keeping the pacy number 10 of Fulham quiet and counter attacking down the wing when the chance came thier way.

Benson and Peewee at centre back were easily mopping up anything that managed to squirm its way through the midfield and at the other end Gav and Jools never gave the Fulham centre backs time to pass their way out of trouble and were pressurising the goalkeeper into rushing his kicks. Naz hardly had anything to do through the whole of the first half he made a couple of stops from long range efforts and was launching the counter attacks with his monster throws and kicks, the main thing he had to worry about was the bounce but he judged it right every time.

The first ASB goal took a while to come along but when it did it was a relief to everyone. JJ received a pass out on the left on the edge of the box and held on to the ball until Tina overlapped him on the outside, JJ slid the ball into Tina's path and Tina crossed it first time with the outside of his right boot Jools stretched backwards as
much as he could and managed to guide his header inside the near post and the keeper had no chance.

Only moments passed before Nick and Gav linked up on the right with some nice one touch passing and Nick nutmegging the Fulham full back into Gav who fired a cross in to the box but no one could get a telling touch to put it in the net.

ASB ideally would need another goal before half time to really settle down and thankfully we got one not long before the half time whistle, a long ball from the back was headed straight to Nick who volleyed the ball over the top to Gav who muscled his way to the egde of the Fulham box before cutting the ball back to Jools who fired his shot inside the near post.

JJ was the main outlet in the first half not surprising when he was roasting the full back with a mixture of pace and trickery and delivering some good crosses into the box, from one of these crosses ASB nearly went 3-0 up a couple of minutes before the break after JJ teased the full back he whipped the ball to the back post but Nick
couldn't direct his headed wide when he should of done better.

Half time came and all the gaffer could say is more of the same and more goals really, everyone was pleased with the way the first half had gone as everyone was putting in the effort, you wouldn't of thought it was the same side who so nearly threw away a 4 goal lead at Welling last week. With no changes made ASB were ready for the
second half.

ASB had kick off for the second half and Eddie wanted to try his trademark shot from the halfway line but going on where the effort ended up he might want to reconsider next time especially if he'd been drinking the night before which we all know he had. Asides from that ASB picked up where they left off, playing nice pass and move
football all over the pitch and creating chance after chance but just couldn't find the finish. ASB had been winning corner after corner in the first half but couldn't do anything with them but when you have someone with a throw like Eddie's you know eventually you'll get something out of them and ASB did twice.

The Fulham back line kept clearing the ball out for a throw and from two of these occassions ASB punished them, Eddie's long throws are always time to bring in the big boys for the flicks so up came Benson and Hedges from the back to take his position at the near post. It was a basic sunday league goal in honesty, long throw from the left with a flick at the near post and Donny on the end of it with a bullet header from 8 yards.

A simliar goal came soon after but from the opposite side Hedges came up from the back again stationed at the near post with a little flick on Jools dived in to head the ball into the goal from about 2 inches off the floor. ASB where cruising 4-0 up with about 20 minutes to play, a perfect time to make some changes JJ went off for Immy, Jools went off for Lee and Nick went off for Woody. Gav moved from striker to left mid so Lee could go upfront with Immy.

ASB weren't done yet after a lightening break we had won a corner on the right hand side as Gary was the closest player to it he whipped in a quick cross-shot with his left foot which caught the keeper completely unawares and the ball flew into the net. Another goal came soon after as the Fulham goalkeeper shanked a clearance straight to Donny who made no mistake from 30 yards lifting the ball up and over the stranded keeper into an empty net.

It didn't all go completely our way at the other end the pacy number 10 of Fulham was causing some problems when he managed to get to a long ball and got around Naz but both Tina and Peewee were back on the line and Tina charged out to block the shot with his thigh. Not long remained on the clock and ASB threatened on and off Woody and Peewee switched round it seemed to work when Peewee had the ball in
the net only to be disallowed. The final whistle went and ASB were rightfully pleased with themselves having soundly beaten an excellent Fulham side. Next week Rotherham, will be great to see them for what should be a fun match.

Nick Babyface Morris