Melee will try to put Wednesday's shock Premier league loss to On Her Majesty’s Cervix behind them when they continue their league defence tomorrow.
They travel to face QP Aunt FC in the next fixture, a week after the loss.
However, QP Aunt FC have played down their own chances, sporting director Rudi Voeller saying: "We're not dreamers but realists."
In Wednesday's other title challenge game, Melee rivals Buckies Up lost 8-5 to newly kids on the block Barnes Ballers. The result throwing the title chase wide open especially following Melee's 6-4 defeat by OHMC, a first defeat of the season, so early on, which further harmed the defence of their Pitch Invasion title. It leaves Melee 3 points behind Barnes Ballers, and behind Buckies Up on goal difference.
Melee’s manager and captain Kevin Webb has insisted the squad are focused.
"We'll fight to the end in all our games, whoever thinks the opposite is wrong,'' he warned. "We have to give everything in every game, and we'll do this until the end of the season.''
With next Wednesday's trip to Buckies Up in mind, Webb knows the team need a victory over a performance. “We know we have been struggling for a cohesive performance in the last few months. We have grinded results out, but last week exposed our mental state. The week before, we went 3-1 down to Acapulco then won 6-3, last week we went 4-0 up and lost 6-4. I’m no Freud but it’s clear to see that there is an issue with our mental focus during the game. To be honest, at this stage, I’m more interested in getting the points than playing well and not getting a result.”
Creative midfielder Jack Dell, who scored a brace and set up one last week, will miss the game against QP Aunt FC after girlfriend duties call. However, Webb himself returns to play after missing last week’s crazy game on girlfriend duty.
QP Aunt FC have started the season in the same capacity as Melee, one win against Acapulco 3-2 but a heavy loss to Buckies Up 10-4. The club is also at odds with their captain after managing director Wolfgang Holzhaeuser described his transfer back to the club as a "failure".
Deputy Captain Chris Pilsbury gave a brief account of last week’s loss outside Melees training ground at the weekend. “It was hard to take. After going 4-0 up, and dominating the first half so easily, it was a shock to walk away from the game with nothing. Our playing style was so ruthless, then after half time we switched off and let them walk all over us. We need to address this with a positive outlook on games, and not let our foot off the gas.”
David Stothard played down rumours of an in team rift with oldest pal Jack Dell after the two were seen squabbling after the game, Dell not travelling home with the team after being furious with the loss. Stothard said there was “nothing wrong” between the pair, and that the anger had stemmed from a poor refereeing decision that cost Melee a controversial goal. “Me and Dell are fine, we got home separately and had a cooling off period. A couple of days later we are happy as Larry sharing a camembert. I think he was the most disappointed out of all of us as he had a cracker.”
Dell was in fact so angry at the Melee performance, he was silent after the game – a real shock. When someone shouted from another team they needed another player, he jumped at the chance, donning a Colonel Getafe shirt helping the team to a 7-2 win, where he scored 3 and set up 4. It was a controversial move and may have isolated him with some Melee players, but helped the playmaker be philosophical about things. “When I played for Getafe, I realised the gulf in class. It so clear. We (Melee) must not forget that we are playing at the top of all the leagues. We have battled hard to get here, so when we lose, it stings. I can’t wait to get back against Buckies Up and show the lads I’m full of juice.”
Defensive rock Nick ‘Fozter’ and flamboyant keeper Fabio Zucchelli also mentioned motivation. Foz said post match that “It’s hard to know how to get motivated when we have won the league so many times. We know we can do well again this season, it just means taking points off Buckies and Barnes, something I and the lads all know we are capable of.” Melee keeper Fabio said that last week’s loss threw his Masters studying in sports psychology out the window. “The match last week was ridiculous. After a cracking team night out where we performed well in the pub quiz, we then showed signs of the old Melee from two seasons ago on the pitch. However the second half of the game was nowhere near good enough, and we need to be positive against QP Aunt FC tomorrow night.”
Melee know they need to be positive tomorrow night, as a starting block before big games against Buckies and Barnes. Could this be the most hard fought season yet?
Jack Dell
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