After blustery storms over night ICARUS gathered at The Prince William of Gloucester Barracks to play the RLC TA in relatively balmy conditions Sunday morning. Nevertheless a hurricane had blown through the original squad with injuries and diversions disrupting the planning of First Team Manager John Hetherington; leading to call ups for a couple of promising cadets from Cranwell, Mike Tierney and Adam Wilkinson and a return to the first team for ICARUS Vet Wg Cdr Eddie Roughsedge. Meanwhile, a new central defence pairing of Dave 'Scotty' Scott and Jim Davies gave the team a more youthful look than normal at the back!

The first half began with an early error in the TA midfield allowing an immediate through ball and attack by Tierney. As a precursor of more to come ICARUS were unable to capitalise on the opportunity. Tierney later hit the inside of the post with a raking shot and attempts by the attacking midfielders, Gino Portaluri and Lee Hodgkinson, failed to achieve the breakthrough. Meanwhile, Andrew Martin-Tonks sacrificed his normal box to box play and held the defensive midfield role for the team, and debutant Adam Wilkinson was tenacious in his tackling at left back. As the half ended with yet more chances it seemed as if there could only be one winner in this game. HT 0-0.

The second half started surprisingly with the TA showing much increased signs of intent and ICARUS looking at a loss to deal with it. Fortunately, Scott was prodigious in defence, regularly closing down the forwards and driving forward with the ball. With the ICARUS back four staying calm the TA created few chances, the only clear one was a free kick saved by the knees of 'keeper Neil Smith. As the half wore on a tactical switch with Dan Turner and Roughsedge swapping roles on the right hand side allowed Turner to advance much further down the right wing exposing the TAs left flank. Once again ICARUS repeatedly spurned great chances albeit often denied by the in-form opposition 'keeper. That was until, in the 85th minute, a long clearance down the right released Turner once again, and leaving defenders in his wake, the deadlock was broken as he drove the ball in to the corner of the net. After the goal there definitely was only going to be one winning team on the day. FT 0-1 (Turner).

Team: Neil Smith, Dan Turner, Jim Davies, Dave Scott, Adam Wilkinson, Eddie Roughsedge, Gino Portaluri, Andrew Martin-Tonks, Lee Hodgkinson, James Renders, Mike Tierney