Reunited continued their fine start to the season with a 3-0 victory over Japan. Although the score-line might have flattered us a bit and we rode our luck at times the game did illustrate how important it is to score first. Preferably to score three times first.

It was an unseasonably warm day for late October and sun cream had to be applied to many of the fairer-skinned amongst us. The game started evenly with us moving the ball well and the football played in the Japanese half, although the threat of a counter attack was always there.

We scored with our first real chance of the day as winger Adam went on a great run down the left and whipped over a perfect cross that Alex did well to catch sweetly on the half volley and sweep into the net from a difficult angle.

After that the Japanese seemed to lose some steam and we went 2-0 up when Joe released Alex on the right with a fantastic long ball and Alex found Mandela who finished well.

It looked like a fairly straightforward first half but our victory was put in jeopardy when following a scramble at a corner, new signing Denys kicked a Japanese player in the head and the ref pointed to the spot. The resultant penalty was missed though with Cody guessing the right way and the ball dragging wide of the post.

This was a relief and there was little of that to come in a frantic second half where Japan controlled the ball and pushed us hard looking for a way back into the game. They seemed to find one when we gave another penalty away after Alex dragged back an attacker in the box. Saved again! This time by Cody.

The game continued with the Japanese passing well and intricately and us defending deep until we broke away for a third goal. Lucas finding Adam who shot superbly into the corner. That was the end of the goals and when the whistle went we could relax in the sunshine with beers reflecting on a job well done.