The second XI opened the new campaign with a difficult game against title rivals BBGR and had to do so with a very scratch squad.  So much so that the only player in the squad who was a regular second XI player last season was Shane Evans.

Anthony Morrison was rewarded for his hat-trick exploits for the third XI last week with a promotion, Rob Pearce, Luke Oliver, Keith Merrick and Craig Thirlaway made their club debuts and Manager Dave Winzor was forced to step in to the goalkeeping position.

Wulfs did well to hold out for the first half hour but fell behind and quickly conceded two more.  It could have been worse had stand-in keeper Dave Winzor not saved twice with a BBGR forward bearing down on him.

Wulfs grabbed a lifeline just before the break when the dangerous Morrison latched on to a through ball from the right, danced past a defender and a strong challenge from the keeper, before sliding the ball into the net.

This proved to be false hope as BBGR regained a three goal league early in the second half and never looked like relinquishing it.

Nick Richards and Shane Evans earned plenty of praise for their whole-hearted performances and Matt Gould, who retired a couple of years ago, also gave his all, as did the rest of the team.

Hopefully next week ……...

Final score: Old Wulfrunians 1  BBGR 4.