Life is full of tough decisions. The choice by today's usual match reporter to stay at home painting, rather than watch the game, was inspired as this wasn't a game that will live long in the memory.

Mersey are a young U14 side who are well organised and disciplined and don't concede lots of soft goals. Our attack needed to be patient, accurate and clinical - they were none of these today as we struggled to get any rhythm in attack. Mersey also don't usually score that many goals, and our defence should have been able to get some of their confidence back after last week. We weren't tested a lot but when we were we often were left ball watching. They had too many one on one's and in truth Will was the reason we had a narrow win rather than loss today.

The fact we came from 5-4 down at the end of the 3rd to win 6-5 was about as satisfying as it got today other than it was good to see our face-off much more successful this week. Apparently Jose Mourinho is reported in the press today as calling for a greater will to win and that some of his players are stuck in a comfort zone - it appears likewise with us at the moment. We know we can play much better both individually and collectively - and that will need to start next week when we visit the league leaders. If everyone plays to their ability and we gel as a team there is no doubt that we can give them a really good game.

Goals - Sam (3), Drew, Eddie and Ben T (1)

MOM - Will