Hot Press Munchengladbach Romp To Seven Goal Victory

Out in their base in the AUL complex, the mighty men of Hot Press Munchengladbach 1891 played hosts to Dunshaughlin Youths FC. Only a swirling wind impaired what were otherwise perfect footballing conditions.

From the start, Hot Press looked sharp but they met a Dunshaughlin side that was equally intent on playing good football – and if anything the visitors had marginally the better of the opening exchanges. But there was good football aplenty on both sides with the Munchies gradually gaining the upper hand.

Their first goal was a cracker, Brazilian striker Gilson lashing in a powerful shot from an acute angle that smashed off the cross bar and bounced down over the line. There was no need to call on the fabled AUL goal line technology on this occasion!

From there on, the Mighty Men upped the power even further. Marco Prudencio's brilliant break down the right and pass found Gilson, who set up Eldi Freitas who dispatched the ball beautifully into the corner of the net.

A fine Dunshaughlin strike made it 2-1, but almost immediately Hot Press broke to the other end top scorer Anderson de Souza fired home a third.

A magnificent individual goal by right back Rafael Souto and another by de Souza saw the Munchies lead 5-1 at half time,

In the second half, the Mighty Men play some wonderful football, with superb passing and running being foiled on occasion only by a few very close offside calls. Further goals followed from Prudencio, player manager Niall Stokes and substitute Xadai Atak, the latter following a wonderful pass from Rowan Stokes. Birthday boy George 'Hagi' O'Shea smacked a superbly struck penalty against the crossbar and a couple of other gilt edged chances were spurned.

At the other end goalkeeper Mark Hogan made a few fine stops and the defence – Rafael Souto, Duan Stokes, Paddy Matthews and Moe Ragel – was magnificent. When the final whistle blew it was 8-1 in favour of the Munchies.

"I was proud of the way we played out there this afternoon," player manager Niall Stokes told assembled reporters at his customary post-match press conference. "Dunshaughlin are a good side, who play decent football but things really clicked this afternoon for us in a way they have been threatening to all season. The passing and movement was exquisite and some of the goals were out of this world. It was one of those days where everything went right "

Asked if it was true that he had been offered the West Ham managerial post, which is currently vacant following the dismissal of Avram Grant, Stokes was unusually circumspect. "There have been phone calls," he told a hushed media room, "but I cannot divulge the contents of the discussions that have taken place."

Did he think the beautiful passing game which the Munchies had demonstrated this afternoon would be appropriate to the more physical environment of the Championship in which West Ham will ply their trade next season? The reporter who had asked the question leaned forward in anticipation of words of wisdom from the managerial guru.

"The eagle dares. The ant burrows. In between there is a world where mere mortals reign. The future is not the past. But passing is surely the future. We are here on the threshold of going forward. Who wants to go back to where we were before the fish was aboard the trawler."

The reporters jotted it all down dutifully.

"So I take it that you will be at Upton Park next season," another reporter countered, frowning over his note book as if he was unable to decipher the meaning of the scrawls that were already carved onto the page.

The Munchies player-manager's phone bleeped. "Yes Roman," he said. "What is it?"

The season is young yet.