Mes Amis started the new campaign with a rather cumbersome win over Monopoly.

The first half was an evenly matched affair with both teams jogging off their respective Friday nights. Monopoly again defended well but offered very little in attack. Mes didn't offer very much of anything as they sweated out the imported beer from their glands.

In the second half Mes stepped it up a gear and - with the help of the sun; air pollution and a sub-tropical climate - finally started to create chances. Some clever work from Tommy Smith Jnr down the left gave Mes their 1st big chance of the game - unfortunately after ghosting past 3 defenders he couldn't finish. The 2nd chance fell to Simon Galvin - a great ball in from the right - only for Galvin to hit a 1st time shot wide of the post. It was unfortunate for Galvin as he had time to control before shooting. It was even more unfortunate for his Mes team mates that he didn't know that he didn't possess the necessary skill to pull off such a shot. Galvin was then switched back to the right wing with his confidence shattered and his head in bits  - up to that point he had been labouring in an unaccustomed centre midfield role.

as the afternoon wore on, not even the introduction of Ritchie "Ciddy till I die" Broadhurst & Tony Daley-esque Nana Blaza could help the fatiguing Monopoly side. The first goal of the afternoon came courtesy of a finely delivered Smith Jnr corner. Smith Jnr floated the ball into the box for an unchallenged Andy Thompson to head into the Monopoly goal. Not long after a hopeful long pass from right winger Galvin saw Steven Crane shuffle, dink & dummy the Monopoly 'keeper. 'Ole! This allowed him a free run onto goal and with no defenders around, Craney walked it into the onion bag for the 2nd mes goal of the day and his first of the season.

With a few minutes to go Monopoly winger Nana Plaza ghosted past Ashley Bell & other members of the Mes defence - have you been to the flicks to see Cashback or maybe even the Matrix? Like that - to slot home a consolation goal for Monopoly. There was cries of offside from the Mes defence but ho hum - dems da breaks.

Final score 2 - 1 to Mes Amis.

Mes Scorers - Andy Thompson and Steven Crane Assists - Tommy Smith Jnr & Simon Galvin

Monopoly Scorers - Nana Plaza
Assists - Ashley Bell *arf*