Firstly Happy New Year to everyone. Hope your festive period was a good one and Santa brought you something nice. I was sorry I didn’t make the bowling night but it sounded like you all had fun. Well done to George “skittle basher” Bishop who won the game and a BIG Thankyou to our magnificent club secretary Wayne Osborne for organising this event and for his continued hard work for the club.

Sunday brought a welcome return to the Tigers football and after a rather long game of follow the leader with Wayne on the A14 and A12, we arrived in East Bergholt for our latest champions league match (or was it the open cup????) Anyway, sadly we travelled without our goalkeeper Matthew Le Poidevin who was unwell (hope your feeling better now Matthew). So Harvey “lee camp” Dinkele donned the gloves and No.1 shirt. Tigers slowly but surely got into their stride against a decent East Bergholt side. A lovely passing move half-way through the first half brought the opening goal. Miles Orlopp and Elliot Pearson linked well with Jarrad Lebbon who arrived in the penalty area to fire home. Tigers defenders Alex Walters and Mattie Osborne were giving East Bergholt very few opportunities to test Harvey in goal but when called upon he looked determined to keep Tigers lead. George Bishop and Miles Orlopp typified Tigers spirit, working hard for the team, so Tigers deservedly lead 1 – 0 at half-time.

Both sides strived hard after the break for the important next goal. Tigers midfielders Jarrad Lebbon, Elliott Pearson and Clayton Mackie combining hard work and good passing to link with Max Stubbs, those four combined to great effects as Jarrad Lebbon powered through midfield to again meet a cross to put Tigers 2 up. East Bergholt’s response was good and Harvey was now at his busiest. One long range shot hurtled towards Tigers net only for Harvey to pluck the ball out of the air just like Shay Given, in magnificent style, while Harvey was as cool as a cucumber his poor dad Martin Dinkele looked anything but cool as he twitched nervously everytime the ball got anywhere near Tigers goal. I’m ashamed to admit I found this amusing but got my pay back later in the day as I nervously watched as Newcastle grimly held onto their F.A Cup hopes at Stoke. All us Tigers supporters got a bit nervous when East Bergholt did pull a goal back late on but thankfully the Tiger boys response was to seal victory when Jarrad Lebbon played in Max “Ronaldo” Stubbs and his clinical finish meant Tigers progressed to the next round. Well done lads a great start to 2008!!!!!

Man Of Match: Jarrad Lebbon : Power packed midfield display and 2 goals his hard work deserved. Another great team performance C. U. Next Week.