After having no match the previous weekend ASB were looking to boost their league position by recording a win against local rivals Fulham. The teams lined up at the Imber Court Sports Club with good overhead conditions but a fairly poor playing surface. Prior to the match Juzza addressed the teams to re-iterate the spirit and manner in which IFA games should be played. Of course this only served to temp fate and the match was blighted by an ugly incident a mere 20 minutes after Juzza's speech.

GK : Juzza
RB : Orville LB : Tina
CB : Hef & Peewee
RM : Malik LM : Sharkey
CM : Riz & Task
S : Jools & Jordan

The match started with a firmly fought midfield contest where both teams worked hard to stop the other from spreading passes around the field. ASB did begin to exert more authority after a hectic opening ten minutes and Fulham withdrew into a compact defensive unit making it difficult for ASB to find a route to goal. What made the game increasingly difficult for ASB was the playing surface, which began to deteriorate as tackles cut up the ground, and the stature of the Fulham team that meant their defence coped with pretty much anything in the air.
 
Midway through the first half the game was marred by an unsavoury incident that soured an otherwise tough but fair game. An in- swinging ball was played in from the right by Task to a crowded penalty area where Riz challenged for the ball with the Fulham `keeper. The challenge was on the physical side but as it was an attempt to make contact with the ball was it didn't seem to be a foul. The ball drifted out of play as the Fulham `keeper (short in size and ugly of face) wrestled Riz to the ground and proceeded to kick out studding Riz in the chest. As if this wasn't enough he then tried to punch Riz as he lay in the Fulham 6-yard box. It took several of the Fulham `keeper's team-mates to restrain the nasty little piece of work as RIz showed admirable discipline in keeping his cool. The `keeper has had previous form in starting aggro and this sort of behaviour has been symptomatic of ASB-Fulham games in the past. Thankfully most ASB opposition are supporters who play for the love of football not for the chance of a dust up. Amazingly the ref didn't see fit to order the knuckle dragger from the field of play and awarded Fulham a bi-kick. Un-f******-believable!

In retrospect this incident may have disrupted our flow as we were playing well in the match up to this point with Jordan having a shot saved and Jools not getting the break of the ball in the box. The match really became a game of few chances with ASB shooting from distance and Fulham only troubling the ASB goal on two notable occasions. Unfortunately for ASB on both occasions they scored.
 
Their first came from a free kick around 20 yards from goal which was dispatched beyond an unsighted Juzza. It was a debatable free kick which was questioned by ASBs defence; the tackle seemed to be fair but the follow through took out their player.

The second half commenced with the debuts of two new recruits. Nick showed some nice touches and Kirk was a committed presence up front. Both players showed promise but need more time to become familiar with the team.
 
The second half was also characterised by long periods of ASB possession with Fulham defending in numbers. ASB were making all the play but it all seemed to be in front of the Fulham back four who were never really turned or exposed. As the game entered the last 15 minutes ASB began to push for the equaliser but a momentary lapse in concentration in the centre circle allowed Fulham to spring a counter attack. They scored from this break, leaving ASB gutted at being beaten by a side which offered plenty of effort but not much class on the ball.

Players who had good games were Orv and the Man of the match, Paul Martin (Hef).