Allsop, Townsend (Shaw), Buckley, McVeigh, Pinz, Naidu (Schmidt), Binns, Stienebrunner (Bennett), Martin (Loggie), Karaljevic (Loney), Supait.

Back-to-back losses in the league had stung the Hotspurs, so it was important to return to winning ways in the Cup, and build on an impressive friendly victory the week before.

It’s ironic that the German Allstars (GAS) have referred to us in the past as their ‘nemeses’, because the feeling is mutual. We beat you in the Windmill Cup before the season started, and you subjected us to our first defeat of this campaign, and beat us last season to boot.

At this juncture in cosmological time however, the rivalry has fuelled a healthy respect, as well as matches that are eagerly awaited and much anticipated. When you throw in the glamour and the allure of cup competition, the crowd that assembled at Dempsey Field on Saturday afternoon for an early kick-off, had every justification in feeling that they were not going to be disappointed in terms of the expected spectacle.

Although the game ended up being a tad one-sided, with the score looking a smidgeon lop-sided, the GAS were in the game for at least 70 of the 90 minutes played.

Patience was the order of the day on a blisteringly hot afternoon, during which shade was at a premium and sun tans were topped up.

Hotspurs started reasonably brightly and deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes – some clever, intricate play down the right threatened to open up the GAS defence, but when the ball was inadvertently directed into Anis’ path, he made no mistake with an uncharacteristically adept finish (his most recent goal attempt hit a passing crow. The crow was unharmed.)

Jamie then went close with a near post header – which is much more impressive when you bear in mind that he was playing at right back, and indeed his energy was a constant menace to the GAS left flank, and a constant source of surprise to some of us who are probably old enough to be his father and were trying desperately to remember what it used to be like to drink 10 pints on a Friday night and still put in a 90 minute shift the following day. The memory will be reasonably fresh for some. For others it would have been growing its own strain of penicillin long ago.

A minute later though, Hotspurs made their superiority tell with a second goal, expertly crafted by Marko, and finished with aplomb by Dalis.

Anis then produced, arguably, the play of the day, as he went round the GAS left back to provide a goal for Marko. The remarkable aspect of the ‘play’ was that Anis beat his man; went back and beat him again; lost the ball; won it back; beat his man...again; lost the ball; won it back (possibly twice, I was just finishing of a Sudoku and a cup of tea at this juncture) and then got in the cross for Marko to score with a volley that would have been described as crisp, had it not been quite so flaccid. A great reward though for the big man, who works tirelessly and enthusiastically (especially in the shade) and has been selflessly playing out of position for some weeks now.

At 3-0 Spurs were heading into half-time in cruise control, with the window down and a fag in hand, but 6 minutes before the break, everyone decided that it was Sunday (not Saturday) and that they were all in church (not on a football pitch) and the silver salver had come round for donations. Bad marking from a corner, a GAS player on the edge of the 6 yard box with time to pick his spot (and pick his nose from a rhinoplasty surgeon if he felt like it), and the act of charity was done for the day.

Or was it?

Early in the second half, the GAS pulled another one back. No charity this time, the GAS counter-attacked with verve and fluidity, and before anyone could shout “who the &%#@’s coveri……?” it was 3-2.

This could have been a seminal moment in the game.

And it was. In all too many previous seasons, Hotspurs would have taken a look at the score, and allowed a degree of panic to set in. Players don’t perform well when they panic.

Rather than rant at the perceived injustice of the score-line, every Hotspur (to a man) rolled up his (or her) sleeves, and with a collective shrug that intimated “this is ridiculous, we’re better than this…I suppose we’d better go and score some more goals…”, got down to work.

Credit to Neil who pulled off an excellent save at 3-2, but after that, the traffic was pretty much one way. Hotspurs were in the fast lane, and the speed cameras were out of order having been recently sabotaged by Norwegian terrorists.

Dalis made it 4-2 on 70 minutes, with a fine individual effort, before rounding off his hat-trick 9 minutes later with the goal of the game, as Hotspurs swept forward, Dalis led the GAS defence a merry dance, before producing the perfect, impudent, cheeky, almost disdainful, lob over the keeper.

Ally completed the scoring a couple of minutes before time – a suitable reward for his impact as a substitute, not giving the GAS defence a moment’s peace (which is a good thing as it’s usually the ball boys who suffer the most).

It’s difficult to pick out individuals for special mention, but Dalis’ contribution was outstanding, and Marko was excellent up front alongside him. Anis had one of his best games for Hotspurs until it was cruelly curtailed by injury, and Vince had a solid debut. Jorg was enormously influential until he tweaked a quad, while Binnsy’ desperate attempts to get on the score sheet ultimately went unrewarded…strangely enough, but he put in a forthright, resolute, and accomplished display. Barry and Aran were like rocks at the back, but occasionally moved a little bit faster, while Jamie and Florian did excellent impersonations of ‘marauding wing-backs’ – not their chosen positions perhaps, but ‘that’ll learn them!’

Kudos also to the subs who were as patient as every other member of the team, but who took their opportunities, embraced their responsibilities, and were magnificent when called into action. Special mention for Dan S who slotted in at right back like a Rolex component; and Dan B who put in a good shift despite having only recently shaken off a virus; Jim, who very nearly gave us a glimpse of his finishing power; Bruce who was as solid as the rocks on introduction, and Ally who bagged us a goal.

See, I told you it was going to be difficult to pick out individuals. I didn’t even mention Neil. OK, now I have. Neil…you were there when we needed you. You can’t give a greater compliment to a keeper.

Saturday’s performance showed a great team spirit and no shortage of quality. There were mistakes, and areas that need to be addressed, but let’s not quibble after such a positive result.

Many thanks once again to the GAS, for a fair game, and an entertaining one. Until we meet again.