Garry Hackel returned to the squad after his sabbatical in Mexico as the Classics took on Fort Langley in an away fixture which was switched to Denny Ross due to the Fort's field was unplayable. Chris Arcari, who's scoring boots seem to have turn into nuns, missed three golden edge chances to put the home side head in the first five minutes but they were all squandered. He doesn't seem to be able to buy a goal at the moment and is, unusually, goal-less this season even though his midfield contributions have been a huge bonus to the team. With all the pressure, it didn't take the Classics long to keep up their recent purple patch of scoring as Gordie Macklin had the ball in the net after just seven minutes. A great through ball from chief striking partner Alan Massender left Macklin with a routine smack into the back of the onion bag. A rare attack from United down the left wing witnessed full back Dave Moore being skinned at the dead ball line. The lone Fort attacker had few options and he sent across what looked like a low harmless centre to the near post. Hackel bent down to collect the back pass but inexplicably allowed the ball to roll tamelessly through his legs for a very soft goal. We'll put it down to it happening while he was having his Tequila siesta!

      

Three minutes later a brilliant right wing run involving Gene Crowley and Macklin resulted in a cross to Warren Crowley who stroked home the ball for his second goal of the season. In the 20th. minute G. Crowley made a dash down the right wing to send over an inch perfect cross for Alan Massender who powered home a delightful header to make the score 3-1. Fort were having a torrid time and were finding it difficult to get into the match which was rapidly becoming one way traffic.

As early as the 27th. minute it became 4-1 and a rout was on the cards. This time it was Alfie Deglan who was feeding the far from anorexic Massender. Massender obliged by golloping down his second helping and the team's fourth goal. He described it as, "a rocket which I precisely hammered by the outrushing keeper [poor lad had no chance as I was under no pressure from his defenders]. I must say my 3 goals were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th nicest of the game!" Five minutes from the break, some clever and skillful ball work from Bill McAuley was finished off by a square ball to Chuck McGill who side footed the ball home to make the half-time score 5-1. Funny incident of the week came when Danny Jensen ran into the back of Rick Geary when they both went for the same ball. Jensen ended up on the floor and it looked like he was made out of elastic when he bounced off the back of Geary - at least it brought a chuckle for the fans and players.

      

The first half hour of the second half became a non event as both side settled into a game of keep ball but the Classics broke through again with 15 minutes to go with a beautifully executed goal. A pin point left wing corner kick from Jim Eden was placed perfectly on the head of a rising W. Crowley who powered the ball past the despairing dive of the Fort keeper. It was a text book header and a well deserved goal and one which sent the Crowley fan club into ecstacy. W. Crowley was having a cracker of a game and was very effective in a self imposed holding role behind the main strikers.

Five minutes later a 60 yard left wing break from Eden was culminated when he ran into the penalty box and unleashed an unstoppable volley past the keeper. The goal was met with an explosion of emotion and excitement from the sideline as the goal was a special one - it broke the all time goalscoring record for the club – and you could say that we have been waiting since BC for this goal. It was Eden's 139th goal and couldn't have come in a better fashion and it was a goal worthy of such an accolade. Eden commented, “It was nothing. I have to give the younger strikers at the club something to aspire to and to look up to. I just hit the ball, y'know, and it went in.” Such is the modesty of Mr. Eden.

Seven minutes from time United forced a right wing corner from which they pulled another goal back when a forward was on hand to punt the ball over the line after it fell at his feet some six yards out. The Classics had the last laugh though five minutes from time when a powerhouse cannon shot from Massender reaffirmed him as the club's leading scorer for the season (well for this week anyway). It was Massender's third hat trick of the season. The goal sealed an emphatic 8-2 victory and one which will always be remembered for that Eden goal!

Final Score: 8-2 (5-1)

Stats:
J. Eden broke the all time goalscoring record for the club
Hat trick: A. Massender
MWG: A. Massender