Our long journey north started badly - The Audi driver abusing the BMW man with obscene texts about lateness ... tut tut ... but we arrived in time .... To play clueless water polo for the 1st half with only goalie Crawford keeping Central in the game at 6-3 down. Energy at last appeared for the team to play fast counter attacking polo, with only occasional breaks for discussion with Referees. Central, in truth were woeful and out of sorts throughout the match. Bad passing, missed man ups, poor shooting littered Central's play, but Manion secured a 2 goal advantage late in the 4th quarter to ease the nerves. A quick counter attack left him sprinting down the right wing and after a breif bit of ball juggling he threw a mighty high lob that not only fooled the keeper but also his team mates. Tamlyn scored the final goal without looking away or complaining anout the sticky pink ball we were using - a common excuse for bad passing and shooting in the changing room afterwards.

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Scorers: Thresher (3), Hutchins (2), Williams, Manion, Sissons, Tamlyn

Having lost to Old foes Portobello on the last 3 occasions, Central attitude and concentration needed to move up a few gears. They didn't disappoint the large vociferous crowd (at least 4) and Central started by defending Porty's dangerous centre forwards with ease and much tapping of top pockets occurred in the bar afterwards. Captain Sissons opened the scoring from the front of goal and Williams went round the keeper to make it 2-1 to restore the lead after a sloppy defensive error. The period ended level at 2-2, after a neat back hand shot from Hutchins. Thresher decided to start scoring and bagged a couple. 3 Man up goals in a row from sharp passing brought a 6-4 lead. This could have increased if Thresher had scored with a penalty. The pink ball excuse re-surfaces and Porty pegged one back. Another neat man up goal by Tejera Arcoha left Central with a 7-5 lead going into the last qtr. Central let the lead slip to 1 goal, but Thresher scored again. Crawford in goal was superb throughout, "clawing" his way into the corners to stop Porty's hopeful long range shots. Towards the end both teams got edgy and nervous in front of goal but Williams, Sissons and Thresher scored and Central ran out winners by 4 clear goals.

Top performances by all including Bado - who impressed the Socts so much they created a fan club for the Argentinian - even though he didn't trouble the scorers. He quietly mentioned in the bar afterwards that he hadn't taken the shots at goal not like the other "jaffa" ....... Having ended the 3 game losing streak to the Scots, Central unusually celebrated by ordering Pizza's instead of beer ...... Maybe conscious of their forthcoming game next day versus the relative trunk pullers.

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Scorers: Thresher (5), Terjera Arocha (2), Williams(2), Sissons, Hutchins

So local rivalry was resumed again but this time in the grim north .... It was going to be a long long journey home for the losers, and it wasn't going to be Central ..... The defence once again tucked into their top pockets a local Cheltenham lad and Vlad the superstar, a nig imposing East European shipped in from Dover on the back of a lorry. Nothing happened for Cheltenham in the 1st quarter except for a few long shots easily snaffled by Crawford. Central went 2-0 up from Arocha and Thresher - finally not complaining about pink balls. Hutchins added a long shot to go 3-0 up and still Vlad the superstar made no impression. Crawford finally let some in as Central tired towards half time and Sissons scored again to keep Central 4-2 up. But some poor man up attempts in the 1st half kept Cheltenham in touch and shoed during the 3rd quarter. Cheltenham finally found their range and also started counter attacking. Vlad finally got fed up being in Central's pockets and decided to fire pop shots from out wide. Thankfully for Cheltenham, Vlad the Imposter turned into Vlad the long shotter and bagged a couple and Cheltenham leveled the game at 5-5.

Central's players looked very tired - even sitting on the bench - but a final effort was required. Thresher scored - again! - and Arocha lured the keeper out to 4 metres and then fired one past his ears. Cue donkey noises from the bench .... Cheltenham equalised both strikes. 7-7 going into the last minute......drama..... A clear penalty for Central was denied .....Time-out for Cheltenham - they then wasted their final attack. Tamlyn calls a time-out with 7 seconds left - inspired decision of course ..... the team form a huddle ..... much discussion but a clear tactical plan ........ a mass melee in front of goal .... a "hail Mary" from Hutchins in towards Sissons and Thresher ...... Vlad the Imposter misses the ball ..... it somehow drops on Thresher's hand ..... a neat flick into the corner with 1 second left GOAL!!!!!..... Oh how Cheltenham wailed! denied in the last second .... much grinning from Central which lasted virtually all of the 4 hours traveling time back to Bristol ...... we even waved at the losers as we drove past the Cheltenham motorway signs ..... poor old Vlad .... probably choose the wrong team .......

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Scorers: Tejera Arocha (4), Thresher (3), Hutchins