POLESWORTH NW 0 LUFFS 1 (8/2/03) LOUGHBOROUGH finally beat the mighty Polesworth for the first time since they joined the Midland Combination four years ago this has been their bogey side and in that time this is probably the best team Polesworth have put out and sitting in third place before Saturday's game. This one was a stark contrast to the previous week's game, this was two good sides playing football the way football should be played and in some ways it deserved a better decider than a defensive error but then the Loughborough defence didn't make a single mistake all afternoon and that's what won it in the end. Polesworth were first to show and Stevenson cleared one and Springthorpe saved one as Polesworth fielded their now famous striker Rooke with his twenty six goals in twenty three games reputation going before him. This game was good for the Loughborough side, the passing was quick and the tackling sharp and they were soon in the swing of it. Stevenson stepped up to test the Polesworth 'keeper Banister but he held on well to the shot from distance while at the other end Rooke let fly with a free kick, just over the bar. Loughborough saw two players making their debuts in this game, local lad Adam Locker and all the way from Anglesey, Sion Morris Jones, right and left flank players they both did a good job for the Loughborough side. Springthorpe saved from Rooke but Loughborough thought they should have had a penalty as Macintosh's' cross struck an outstretched hand but it wasn't given and the loose ball found the side netting. This was too good sides trying to break down each other with quick incisive football but defences on both sides were impressive. As the half progressed the Luffs had a couple of half chances, Gunn had Banister at full stretch and Morris Jones saw his shot blocked. After forty minutes of entertaining football Polesworth made an error, the pass back to Banister was short and Mcintosh was onto it like a greyhound, stole the ball, rounded the keeper and blasted a left foot shot past the defender on the line. It was cruel to this Polesworth side but not entirely undeserved as Loughborough went in at half time with a precious lead. The second half saw the teams looking as good as each other, Gunn had a shot saved while at the other end Craig's header was saved by Springthorpe. As the half progressed any thoughts of surviving with this narrow lead were forgotten as The Luffs pressed forward and might well have scored again. Midway full back Stevenson limped off and was replaced by player manager Tebbutt to maintain the stability at the back. Mcintosh hit a left foot corner, Gunn connected squarely with his head and the ball skimmed the Polesworth bar. There followed a period of ten minutes when Tebbutt might well have scored a hat-trick, as Mcintosh whipped in his corners with such pace that 'keeper Bannister couldn't get near them and three times Tebbs was a whisker away from connecting at the back post. This was the period when Loughborough could have put the game beyond doubt and given the travelling supporters a more relaxed end to the game but a second goal didn't come and there were a few anxious moments before the end. Polesworth hit the bar with a cross come shot and the Warwickshire side appealed for a penalty as the tackling grew sharper but the referee and the partisans were having none of it. Rogers set Gunn up with a late chance to put it all beyond doubt but Banister spread himself well and save with his feet. A glancing header from Polesworth was the last chance of the game and Loughborough were home and dry after a game of intense entertainment from both sides ... the best win of the season, yes it probably was. This Saturday The Luffs entertain Thimblemill at The Drome, Derby Road (kick off 2.45 PM) and the central Birmingham side come with a reputation of a team that doesn't sit on the fence with past records showing either a win with four goals or a defeat with four goals but with the Loughborough defence looking mean these days, it should go the right way. TEAM:  Paul SPRINGTHORPE, Steve MOULT, Ian STEVENSON, Matt WATKISS, Carl SPRINGTHORPE, Gareth ROGERS, Adam LOCKER, Ben BOYCE, Paul GUNN, Andrew MCINTOSH, Sion MORRIS-JONES, SUBS  Jonathan SANTRY, Simon TEBBUTT, Mark DABNEY SCORERS:   ATT: NA HT: 1-0