After a disastrous start last week against Coogee the AA2`s turned up hoping for a much better performance and to finally register some points.

It was another brisk beautiful day in Sydney for a top of the table clash, were a win for Dunbar would probably take them on the road to a league title. A win for barnstoneworth
would take them level on points but top of the table on goal difference.
BS has been in a great run of late, undefeated in six games, there last defeat up against Dunbar in a shambolic display, going down against 10 men like magaluf girl, at least she won something.

It was a massive one this weekend a must win to keep the momentum going from the past few weeks. From all the injuries and lads missing it was going to be a real test.

After last weeks hard-fought draw, Barnestoneworth were looking to capitalise on Coogee’s poor form. Barnestone started brightly with fluid passing and plenty of crosses in from both flanks. Coogee found it difficult to contain the Barnestone attack and looked completely outclassed for the majority of the half. After a host of chances from Barnestoneworth, big Dave came agonisingly close with a towering header after some good movement on the right. It seemed only a matter of time before the floodgates would open. The freshly groomed Patsy rolled back the years with a towering leap and headed in Barnestone’s opener. We soon doubled the lead after another good ball into the box lead to a goal mouth scramble which Anil tucked away.

What started out as another promising team performance ended up with a Dunbar smash and grab and left the boys deflated again.  First Half, we played some good football in the first half and it was end to end stuff with both sides creating chances. However after 15 minutes Barnstoneworth took control of the game and took the lead following some great pressure from the strikers and Nick finished off a great cross from John R.

After a big Friday night in the Coach, the pre-game message from the Gaffer was that Queens Park had beaten there own second team 11-1, so this was going to be a tough game and everyone had to turn up fresh as a daisy.  Sadly, Ken “don’t do training” Cogley was off up the coast pampering himself for Mother’s Day, Patsy “the best paid labourer in Sydney” was off gallivanting in Portugal, and Maggy “Mango Djemba Djemba” had gone AWOL – reports are he’d been spotted on Bondi Beach pouring pints of sea water over young lads he thought were his teammates.

Next up for Barnstoneworth was Waverley on a very bobbly Moore Park pitch on a glorious winter’s day in Sydney.  Nothing more than three points would do as the barney boys looked to get back to winning ways.  The return of John Rhodes meant the barney boys were pretty much back to a full strength squad apart from big Dave Thompson who had parked his car all the way back in Wollongong!

1.00 Sunday 6th April saw Barnstoneworth United Kick off their season at Paine Reserve. Unusually it was a wet day, and I think we were all surprised that the game actually went ahead.

It was a cold, wet and miserable day at the David Philips sportsground in Daceyville, perfect conditions for the Barney boys, facing UNSW who were the team to beat sitting at the top of the table. Barry had made it clear, this was a pivotal game for our season, nothing short of a win would do us.

What promised to be a chance to get our season back on track at Heffron Park ended up being another day of disappointment for the AA2 boys.

It was another sunny day down at Wembley reserve. The groundskeepers “the dogs” had been out this week and the pitch was looking great with freshly dug holes. Dan Taylor was making his comeback after falling down a hole and been trapped under Paine reserve and Chris Neale was hoping to keep his first ever clean sheet in goal.

Another gorgeous sunny Sunday started off with stress, at great eventual cost ($3 fine) and with huge delay and inconvenience. ‘Meet you by the car at 11.40am Tom’ tends to give the meaning see you near my motor around the time of twenty to 12 so we can get to the ground before 12pm and to not incur a fine…….….Ring ring ’Tom it’s 11.50am, where are you?’ – ‘Oh sorry Chris, just woke up, alarm didn’t work’…… enough said. My business card now reads efficient and reliable CBD taxi service and wakeup call available at additional cost.

Stephen Whelan scores wonder goal Messi would be proud of to earn their AA2 the first point of the season…

It’s been all change for Barnstoneworth AA2’s over the post season with no fewer than 10 new players drafted into the squad, a new manager and a new captain. Pre-season was completely different to the year before, not helped by the fact we couldn’t get any pitches organised and so it meant that our opening game of the season was another chance for us all to get to know each other.

Another depleted squad saw an even more depleted Waverley Old Boys take all 3 points at Paine Reserve on a hot winter’s afternoon.

After another overnight downpour, Paine Reserve was unbelievably open. Hopefully the council willcompletely re-turf it with a set of new floodlights for next year!

Honours were even again in the second 2-2 draw between Barnstoneworth and Pagewood this season. Barnstoneworth again would see this result as two points dropped after another piece of bad luck 5 minutes from time.

Super sub Paul Jones came to the rescue with a late goal as Barnstoneworth Twos finally returned to winning ways with a hard fought 3-2 victory over the children of Sydney University.

Now I was confident as anyone when it came to Barnstoneworth winning the AA2 League, undefeated all season, but after this latest loss, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee – we’re fucked. Also-rans. 2nd at best. Runners up. To be honest I didn’t know how it would affect me, but today, I just feel absolutely deflated.

It was a windy day and the venue was Heffron Park . Team moral was still high after the defeat to Maroubra and BUFC were looking to bounce back with a win. Hangovers gone from the raffle night the mood was good. It was Jonesy’s turn to wash the kits and he seemed to have done it in the local Chinese take away, no opposition players would be man marking us as the smell of sweet and sour chicken was potent.