INotts travelled to RAF Uxbridge to play FC Icarus - a team of Officers from the RAF - in the AFA Intermediate Cup. Having exited the Surrey-Kent Cup rather ingloriously Notts were determined to put up a better show in the more prestigious competition.

The RAF team started the brighter and were about Notts physically from the off. However, the Notts starting 11 were not to be intimidated in any way and went about trying to establish their pattern of play. Morris, partnering Phadnis in central midfield, was quickly to the fore, making tackles and distributing the ball efficiently. Despite the hard work Notts were penned in a little and were struggling to release the flying machine that is Ben Hughes.

The Notts back 4 of Webb, Grove,Nimm and Mitch were began to come undergo an examination after 10 minutes. Icarus had the upper hand and seemed to have spare men out wide all the time. Ben Fisher was having a superb game in the holding role for Icarus. A series of headers, tackles and interventions later eased the pressure and allowed Notts their 1st positive piece of possession. Joel tracked back excellently to help Mitch and won the ball from the wide midfielder. A quick one-two with Morris saw the Aussie winger set off towards the touchline having exchanged passes with the subtle Leon. The cross was a good one and sought out Chambers or Hughes in the box but was just scrambled away.

The next passage of play saw Chambers receive a swollen cheek and their midfield enforcer, Lee Hodgkinson, lose a tooth in a collision straight from WWF! To be fair Hodgkinson simply pulled his tooth out and carried on. Chambers looked momentarily dazed but as he has no feeling he carried on as well. The

Notts backline were again under a concerted amount of pressure and were nearly undone a couple of times before the twenty minute mark. A neat ball in to the solitary Bond from Schofield was followed by a neat turn and a shot blocked by Grove. Within minutes a shot from Stones found it's way onto a post, with the follow up from Portaluri also hitting an upright under pressure from Grove and Webb. The pressure finally told after 25 minutes and the goal came from a corner. A great near post corner from Alex Stones rocketted into the box. A missed header allowed Portaluri a clean header which White could not prevent from going in.

The remainder of the half saw Notts midfield 4 work themselves back onto an even plane but not quite manage to provide opportunities for the pair up front. Leon started the 2nd half by linking play neatly but the final ball the Hughes was not good enough. To his eternal credit Hughes never hid and worked ceaselessly. Morris and Jo were again to the fore in trying to release Chambers and Joel out wide but again the quality of the pass was a little amiss on the awkward pitch.

Icarus attempted to reestablish their supremacy with an aerial bombardment which the back 4 dealt with well despite a swirling wind. On 15 minutes Notts worked the ball to the edge of the box and Hughes got off a shot which was blocked by Shutie for a corner. The delivery from Morris was good and Nimm's effort was blocked. Notts were beginning to get the better of the territory. Leon again showed excellent composure to send Joel scampering away down the far touchline but his cross was cleared away for another corner. Morris delivered well to the back post where Grove's header sailed just above the bar.

FC Icarus' one real effort came almost straight away which White smothering a long range effort from Hodgkinson and seizing the rebound well when Bond looked set to score. Back onto the offensive then for Notts in the diminishing light. Substitutes, Cranny, Luke and Si Owen added fresh legs and renewed passion. Possession was being secured but no real chances were created. Hughes had another snap shot blocked. Chambo had a decent half chance stopped. A series of long throws and corners in the dying minutes generated alot of pressure but again no clear sights on goal. The referee blew up to the delight of the opposition and the dismay of Notts. The levels of effort were Herculean in matching a very well conditioned team but Notts lacked a final ball all game which put paid to their 2nd cup campaign of the season.

Team: Jackson, Turner, Arnison, Whieldon, Shutie, Portaluri (Martins-Tonks75), Fisher, Schofield, Hodgkinson, Bond (Rutherford 65), Stones (Coleman 50)