So, time to get things back on track then, which might be easier said than done but which has to be the aim of the weekend ahead, following the misfortunes that have been visited upon us over the course of the last week.

Rarely can there have been a more unpleasant day to be playing football than Saturday, 29^th March, 2008. The wind we have become used to over the weeks, whipping from one end of the ground to the other but did we really need the rain and the hail to go with it? The wind chill factor must have taken the ambient temperature down to below zero and yet, a day after frost bite and trenchfoot were pre-eminent threats to personal health, thoughts along these lines had to turn to protection against harmful ultra violet rays and the effectiveness of factor 16 sun block.

Even taking such matters into account, though, the first team will still be bitterly disappointed to have surrendered all three points to Newton Heath. The visit to Kingswood, then, takes on rather more importance than might have been envisaged just a week ago. We drew the home game against them in a goal-less encounter which saw us down to 10 men once Neil Bond – remember him - had been sent off, although chances to either side were few and far between. Since then, Kingswood have retained their place in the division but we have improved ours and, to a certain extent, we need a good performance to make sure the wheels are put back on following last weekend’s disappointment. The firsts name 15 this week as they are hoping to welcome back Rick Redfearn, following surgery on his cheek injury, and retain the services of James Gowing, who has been impressive since making his return to the side following an extended run in the reserves.

The Reserves themselves travel to Brockworth to take on the side that they defeated with relative comfort 6-0 just two weeks ago. The defeat last weekend to FC Barometrics, who, following the last gasp victory of their reserves over the thirds in the Charity Cup Semi Final on Wednesday, are assuming the proportions of a fully fledged bogey club, moved the side off the top of Division Two and saw them slide all the way down to fourth. It is still extremely tight at the top, however, and three more points on Saturday are imperative if the side is to maintain its hopes of its highest ever League placing. Following numerous weeks of absence, Jordan Kontarines returns to the side and is expected to start in place of Martin Collier, who was a surprise scorer the last time the two sides met and who is away himself this weekend. Matt Hall continues in goal for a side that also gives a rare outing to Matt Storey, one of the mainstays of the 2^nd team from a couple of seasons ago who is home on holiday from University.

The big games just keep on coming for the third team and, following the draws gained against the other two teams in the top three that preceded the farce of a match that was last weekend’s home encounter with Northleach Town Reserves, the side play the return of the 1-1 away draw that was played out with FC Electrics two weeks ago. Recently, the side seems to have developed a habit for conceding late goals in big matches that it will be keen to rid itself of, especially as it proved to be so costly against FC Barometrics in the Cup Semi Final on Wednesday. Prior to that, four points were lost as a 1-0 lead was surrendered to a last minute penalty against FC Electrics and, a week earlier, a 3-1 lead was lost against Southside as the game went into injury time. With two games against fourth placed C & G to come in April, the side simply has no time to wallow in Wednesday’s cruel defeat and must bounce straight back with a side strengthened by the return of John Marchant and Martin Reid. Chris Clarke, hat-trick hero last Saturday yet unused substitute on Wednesday, will also be raring to go against the Division Five league leaders.

All games kick off at 3.00 pm