The new season is upon us and North End United find themselves playing TAFC derbies almost every week.

Week 1 saw them come up against the new boys of last season, Northern Alliance FC. NAFC found themselves a player short for the first game of their season, so NEU had a one man advantage throughout the game.

Although, NEU almost found themselves a player down before the game, when Jimmy L could find his player card that he had in his hand moments before. He had everyone check his bag, and their own bags. No one could find it. At on point Stevie J mention to check behind the flaps in his bag. During the 20th minute of the game, Jimmy found his player card, behind on of the 'flaps' inside his bag. Stevie J claimed the assist.

Anyway, to the actual match. NEU had most of the possession through out the game, but took a while to break the deadlock. In the 15th minute Stu S hauled a long pass up to Rob H that hammered the ball into the back of the net 1-0 NEU.

NAFC didn't let this phase them, and pulled level in the 20th minute with some determination that they kept throughout the match. 1-1.

Marcus N found himself with a couple of good chances as the first half went on that fizzed just wide of the post. On the 40th minute Marcus N was making a run from the midfield and was fouled about 25 yards out. Marcus took the resulting free kick and powered it through the wall and into the back of the net. 2-1 NEU.

Halftime:

2-1 NEU

NEU took advantage quickly in the second half when Marcus N played Brandon B down the right, Brandon B threaded a perfect ball into the box, so perfect that it went passed everyone and into the back of the net. 3-1 NEU. Moments late Brandon B returned the favor to Marcus N by setting Marcus up for his second goal of the game. 4-1 NEU, Marcus didn't stop there, he was on a hat trick, he had it moments later when a through ball from Joel W found Marcus N and he claimed the game ball with his 3rd goal of the game. 5-1 NEU.

Kyle Oswalt soon claimed a bizarre assist when his cross found the head of a NAFC defender who guided the ball over his own keeper into the net. 6-1 NEU.

With 10 minutes to go, Simon O'G passed a ball forward to Stevie J who saw the keeper off his line, and lobbed the ball over him from 35 yards out to score his first of the game. 7-1 NEU. 5 minutes later Rob H squared a ball to Stevie J in the box that Stevie hit past the keeper to make it 8-1 and pick up a brace.

With the time and game winding down, NAFC scored a great consolation goal with a slick cross from the right that found the head of an NAFC attacker who powered a bullet header into the NEU net. 8-2

Final Score:

NEU 8 - 2 NAFC

Man of the Match: Marcus Nelson, for his hat trick and assist.

Honorable Mention: Stevie J, for his brace and also his assist in helping Jimmy find his player card.

Overall fun game for NEU. Very clean game played by both teams and a great job from todays referee.