Sunday was a triumphant one for Coveside as they walloped the Rams 5-2 to keep their winning record in tact, moving to 3-0 on the season. Perhaps it's the new uniforms, or the new talent, but CUFC are playing with renewed passion and more commitment this year and it's paying off.

The new attitude was reflected in a new style as substitute manager Robbie Paul instituted a new formation, favouring five at the back and only one up front. Robbie deferred from Bernie's low key casual pregame style (hangover), taking an approach more like Sir Alex, offering up, "Let's get two or three quick ones and beat these C U Next Tuesdays" to get the lads going. Robbie's steel hand on the team was evident when he barked at three Coveside players to "get your sunglasses off" as they tried to look a little too Italian on the pitch.

Things started well with the new format seeing Mike Norris and Ed Duynstee push up more on the flanks and Russell Hennessey, Harp Dhaliwal and Bryn Botham keeping things in control in the middle. Russ started the usual feistiness between the two second division rivals with a solid sliding tackle on the Rams best player, striker Gary Ott, that cleanly took the ball out on a sliding tackle. Ott then went over Hennessey's tree trunk-like legs and hammered his head hard on the turf, and needed to be subbed. That brought the usual whining but also intensified the game. Which was good news for Coveside.

Some fabulous movement up the right saw Mark Docherty thread a neat pass into the corner for Rob Paul, who knocked a solid cross into the middle, which was run onto by Craig Larson and powerfully headed into the back of the net, 1-0 after 10 minutes in one of the best goals in CUFC history. Nearly 10 minutes later, Larson found himself with space about 30 yards out, and unleashed a rocket that curled into the top corner and left the goalie helpless. Actually, the sun was in my eyes, so that's how Craig described it to me. An alternate version offered by the rest of the squad said Craig stubbed his toe, the goalie made a right mess of it, jumping out of the way, and the ball trickled into the goal. Either way, it was 2-0. At this point Rob Paul brilliantly made some subs, and the work rate improved. Larson even filled in at the back and and pilloried Ott again on a superbly-timed challenge clearing a ball out of the box while cutting through the fallen striker.

Rams had few chances, but one scramble saw Harpie use his now patented sit-on-the-ball routine, as he wheeled around on his rear while protecting the ball below his legs like Brad protects the last spring roll at dim sum. The one clear chance came off a free kick for obstruction on the cusp of the six yard box. For once those Celtic hoops came in handy as the illusion of four men on the line looked like six and it obviously unnerved the Ram who took the kick, toepunting it 10 yards wide from eight yards out. Just before halftime Jason Fisher really took the wind out of the Rams with a spectacular, dashing run past three defenders and he tucked the ball around the keeper and into the net just before the whistle to give Coveside a 3-0 lead.

As is becoming typical, and troubling, Coveside started the second half a tad sluggish and Rams took full advantage. A few near misses thanks to some miscommunication between the static keeper (who was stuck to his line like a Miami coke head - editor) and Russell on some long balls, nearly broke the clean sheet. Off a quick break down the left, Rams got off a cross to an open Ott who had found some space, loads of it actually, inside the 6-yard box and he buried the ball in an empty net. Sunny, who had been marking the man who got off the cross, summed up his disappointment in typical Sunny fashion screaming something to the effect of: "Oh my, I am so disappointed will somebody please engage me in anal coitus."

Just as they did the week before, Coveside went into a funk after surrendering a goal, and a few corners were conceded that resulted in near misses. Paul Kellor put in some solid defending to clear the danger, and Mark Docherty even made an appearance in his own penalty area, so the conditioning at training must be paying off. Larson again made the Rams pay for some sloppy defending with a slashing run through the box that had him hauled down, and a penalty awarded. Tragically the penalty, taken by Larson, was saved by the Pirate, but Ryan Matches, back in hoops for his first game after a two-match holdout, alertly swooped in on the rebound and buried it by the beached goalie, who took out his frustrations on the posts, nearly toppling the net.

But still, sloppiness continued, and CUFC let the Rams briefly back in the game. Ott sprung free clean past the defence and buried an easy one off a breakaway to make it 4-2. With less than 10 minutes to go, Coveside finallly put the game away after a long clearance by the keeper rolled just outside the Rams box, the Rams goalie tried to play it back in the box and pick it up, but Dave Woods, who didn't give up on the play, kept after it, poked it free, then nudged it into the empty net. At 5-2, it was all over but the whining, "But Arrrrrrrnoooooooo, how can it be offffsiiiddde, when he's standing over theeeeerrrrre, wah, wah,".

Man of the Match:
 
Larson. Two goals, including a brilliant opener that got the Rams right in the goolies, plus he created a penalty, even if he did gag on it.

Honorable mention to Harp, Russ, Sunny, Bryn and Ed for some great work off the long high balls at the back (Russ and Bryn are each an inch shorter today), and Andy Dudley and Doc with some wonderful defending coming back to snuff out fires, and Ryan and Dave Woods for goals created off hustle up front.

Game notes:

The Coffee Club is rounding into form as spiritual leader Ian Powell showed up carafe in hand, and injured Cloudy and honorary member Sam Bramley also graced the sidelines. ... Injuries took their toll as Karim Ismail paid the price for his slovenly lifestyle and lack of stretching, pulling a muscle early on. Rob Paul was also lost to a broken toenail midway through the second half. He saw a beautician on Monday for a pedicure, but is still listed as day to day. ... Robbie did do a fine job on the subs though, "this subbing stuff is hard, but I did brilliantly" Robbie proclaimed. Bernie was missed in one respect though, we ran out of beer in about 10 minutes, and none of his relatives were even there to blame.