The Pirates pitch was declared unfit so this fixture was played at Euxton. Winter has well and truly arrived with this match being played in a biting cold wind following last weeks driving rain.
 
When we played the Pirates earlier in the season we won 4-2 having led 3-0 so we knew that we had to treat them with respect. Aarbaaz was ill so Luke played his first match of the season in goal with Aedan returning to the defence and Jamie came into midfield. Euxton started brightly with Daniel and Dylan both creating chances we couldn't quite convert. Things were looking positive until after a breakaway attack by Pirates, Euxton didn't clear the ball out of the box and a good strike put the "home" side ahead.  Perhaps earlier in the season this might have caused the Blacks to panic, but in a sign of their growing confidence they just continued to play good football. This brought goals from Jack H 2 , Daniel and Dylan before half time. Leading 4-1 was the least they deserved after some fantastic football. Aedan and Ben were looking confident in defence, Jamie doing lots of good work in midfield and Jack, Dylan and Daniel combining really well to create chances.
 
Changes for the start of the second half brought on Matthew and Thomas in defence and Jack D in midfield . Euxton contnued to play well and created goals for Jack H (for his hat trick) Dylan and a great moment for Jamie to cap a very promising all round performance. Dylan , Daniel and Jack H all had a rest allowing others to have a run in other positions.
 
Some of the football played by Euxton today was good enough to warm up the support on even this bitterly cold day. It was great to see everyone get a good run and people try out different positons. To win so comfortably against a team in the top 4 in the league was a credit. It was not easy to pick the man of the match - a special mention for Jamie who had a game of real promise -  but the deserved winner was Jack H who gave a fantastic performance capped with a hat trick.
 
Top of the league still - 7 big games ahead for the chance of a very special achievement. If we keep playing like this we have a great chance.