Nnamdi, Leci (Buckley), Armstrong, McVeigh, Street, Binns, Townsend, Shaw (Morriss), Pinz (Bennett), Loney, Childs.

After such a good performance against the Casuals last weekend, it was inevitable that this time round, the Hotspurs would be down to the bare bones due to injuries and absentees, and put on a show that was as lacking in spirit as an Amish canteen during Lent.

Apart from the opening 10 minutes, during which Hotspurs dominated, looked lively, and could have taken the lead at least twice, the remainder of the game was largely forgettable – this despite hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions in the second half, and at least making a fight of it.

The Lions took a first half lead courtesy of a superb free-kick – we never could have seen that one coming, despite the fact that the same player produced exactly the same delivery, from almost exactly the same spot the last time the two sides met, with exactly the same result.

Déjà vu all over again? Or an attack of ‘jamais vu’…Some of the Hotspurs players bore the expression of someone who’d just turned the key in the lock of the front door of their house, gone over the threshold, and exclaimed, ‘goodness me, I live here.’ I can’t be arsed to explain the psychology.

Shorn of a bunch of regulars (and irregulars) Hotspurs laboured for much of the remainder of the half, and the mood in the dressing room after the dressing down at the break was slightly weary with a soupcon of defiance.

Throughout the match, the Lions were hungrier for the ball, more committed in the challenge and simply looked as though they wanted the game more. Dare I say that 'pride' was a determining factor? Pride...Lions...get it? On a bobbly pitch, Hotspurs struggled to get instant control of the ball and hence failed to be able to move it around the pitch with any speed, conviction and/or (at times) direction.

The Lions added two second half goals; both coming from breaks after Hotspurs had ceded possession with the carelessness of a particularly recalcitrant bull in an Oxfam shop. Hotspurs created several clear cut chances in the second period, but, like an apathetic missionary, couldn’t convert, and despite probably having shaded it in terms of possession over the 90 minutes had to stare down the wrong end of a 3-0 final score line.

Credit to the Lions who played their hearts out and produced some excellent football – full of the verve and passion that the Hotspurs couldn’t quite manage on the day. Not a yellow card in sight during the course of the match (we think maybe Bradley forgot to bring his cardage) was testament to the spirit of the game that was not without its physicality.

It’s back to square two for the Spurs who must try to get their act together for a tough assignment against Rangers next weekend.

Kudos to our MOTM Berry, whose solicitations and bear-faced (sic) emotional bribery at the post match press conference got him the nod over Jamie, and to Ally and Phil up front who worked tirelessly but without reward.

I’d like to be able to report that the gaffer had an outstanding first half at right back, but it would be easier to suggest that Paris Hilton has talent or that Al Qaeda is planning to manufacture its own range of designer luggage.