LUFFS 2 THIMBLEMILL 4 (2/10/04) The Luffs missed a golden opportunity to haul themselves off the bottom of the league for the first time in six months with a first half that lacked any real concentration and it cost them three first half goals. Thimblemill sat just one place above Loughborough before this game but signalled their intention of discontent by fielding nine new players and it paid off for them. Mark Cass opened the score after just five minutes , left alone from a corner he found himself free to pick his spot. Loughborough settled their game after this stuttering start and Simon Walker hit a free kick just over the bar and Chris James making his debut for The Luffs forced a save from 'keeper Sam Steele. But that lack of concentration was there again after twenty minutes and Andra Robinson found the bottom corner to make it two, There were signs that this Loughborough side can play a bit and Thimblemill scrambled one off the line but before the break Andre McManus planted a free kick in the top corner and The Luffs went in at half time three goals down. Having allowed the Thimblemill skipper Andre McManus to score just before half time he immediately strode through the Loughborough defence from the second half kick off to make it four. From then on Loughborough really made a game of it and there was a feeling that if they could just get into striking distance of the four goals this Thimblemill side might just crumble. Jason Lane came close with a shot just over before Chris James marked his debut with a goal from close range. Simon Walker delivered some good telling crosses from the left flank and the pressure was on the home side to keep their considerable lead intact. Jason Lane was there again just over and keeper Steele saved well from a matt Kearns shot. If a couple of these chances had been converted earlier in the half this game could have given The Luffs something to be pleased about. Jason Lane robbed keeper Steel of the ball and scored to make it 4-2 and the Brummies were on the ropes. But these two goals had been hard to come by and there were no more to be had and Thimblemill ran out 4-2 winners. It was a spirited second half performance by The Luffs but you just can't give teams at this level a four goal start and expect to get something from it. Saturday sees them away again in Shakespeare country to the village side Wilmcote (Kick off 2.45pm) with a small mountain to climb now to get out of trouble. The Loughborough second team were left managerless in midweek and they also went down 2-4 with goals from Sol Morina and Dave Pitchford but they is a good spirit in this side and they appear in the County Cup this Saturday at The Drome Kick off 2.30pm. TEAM:  Mike FINLAYSON, Chris WARD, Matt KEANRS, Matt WATKISS, Mark LEWIS, Adam BARRIGAN, Simon THORNE, Jason LANE, Chris JAMES, Micheal DAVIS, Simon WALKER  SUBS:  Lee SMITH, Edmir LIKAJ, Sam BLOUNT SCORERS:  Jason LANE, Chris JAMES ATT: N/A HT: 0-3