The second league game of the Season for the Barbarians was always going to be a true test for Barbarians as we were up against Africa United- one of the favourites to win the league. The Barbarians started with an unchanged line up to that which started against Sexy with exception of Phil in for Dave and Keith being replaced in goal by Sevrin.  The Barbs bench was very strong With Keith, Carlos, Thomas, Henry starting as subs.

They would  be called upon early as Africa scored with their first attack down the left hand side.  The Africans scored very soon after again with almost a carbon copy move down the left hand side.  Barbarians still half asleep had yet to show what they could do. The game was in desperate need of a good crunching tackle and a competitive edge but unfortunately the referee wouldn't allow for some fair hard tackling. The linesman bench side was definitely a fudge packer.

Early changes saw Carlos join the midfield and he needs no invitation to throw some tackles in and that was it Barbarians were ignited.  Stewart, Nathan and the boys were now throwing it around.  Africans were going down like pussies and yellow cards were being handed out like sweets in a peados playground.

Soon the Africans were down to 10 men as a crunching tackle from Nathan left their number 19 with at least a triple fracture, a broken spleen, and dislocated knee, or at least that's what the scream would have suggested! PUSSY! Number 18 duly left the field of play and with no subs left the Afrians with 10 players. This unfortunately spurred on Africa  who played better football  without him. This technically gifted and a very well organised team will be a contender for the title but the Barbarians should take heart from the fact that at times when we played football , it looked good and we competed. However, this was just too far and few between.

Some good defending and shots stopped from Barbs keeper meant we came in at half time with somewhat of a game still to play at 3.0

Half Time 3.0 Africa United

Keith the Badger started the second half and wasted no time in showing some of the young lads what sticking it in means.  Especially since number 19 for Africans had re-entered the game having been rebuilt and wearing a pair of plimsoles.  This provided an immediate target for Keith who offered the young man some words of encouragement.

In parts the Barbarians were looking like a team of decent ballers with a back four by all accounts which will be solid against most teams. Henry was doing a fine job at right back and Lawrence stroking the ball out of the back left nicely. Andrew with last gasp tackles was not giving up without a fight. Dale was soon to be replaced by Thomas in left midfield having put his back out.

Unforts, soon the Barbarians were down 4.0 and then 5.0 with some good work from the Africans down the middle.  Deep late in the game a smooth move down the left side saw Big Kevin Plume smash home a strike from inside the box! A deserved goal for Kev and the hard working forwards.  Kev would soon receive a well deserved yellow card for dishing out a well deserved kick at the African centre back who decided he wanted to show boat in-front  of an already riled up Kev. MISTAKE!

The game would end at 5.1 but this was never a 5.1 game and the Barbarians walk away from the game having learnt some valuable lessons in competing and getting stuck in early.

Barbarians will be playing Russia after the October break and this will offer us a good opportunity for some early revenge having been put of the cup by the Russians!

match report by Moses Kiptinui