The Classics took to the field in Aldergrove with the news that they had lost two of their strikers in the 'January Transfer Window'. Bruce Cook has left to join local rivals Langley and Billy Ranger has retired through injury. Both players will be missed after years of sterling work and the team send good wishes to both. On the other hand they were buoyed by the news that Oldham had gone to Goodison Park the day previously and knocked Premier League team Everton out of the FA Cup to become only the fourth team to beat the Toffies this season. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool being the other victors. With just 11 players and an unfit Mike Snow as sub the Classics quickly signed the forms to take Gordie Clark on an emergency one match load deal to help swell the numbers.

The match got off to a whirlwind start when Danny Jensen put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute with an unstoppable well struck shot to the top left corner of the goals. Ten minutes later it was 0-2 after the ball broke loose from a right wing corner. Chuck McGill was on hand in the box and calmly stroked home the second goal. The game was being controlled from the midfield with Chris Arcari, Jim Eden, Alan Burton and Jensen all having influential roles. Aldergrove did have their moments and at one such forward attack they left themselves exposed, so it was no surprise when Jimmy Butler was sent haring away on an unchallenged run from the centre circle. He had a player in support but the Aldergrove keeper remained static on his line giving Butler one of his simpler goals. 0-3.

The Classics defence were also in control of their patch and when Garry Hackel was called upon he was on top form and was handling everything efficiently. His distribution was also top drawer and he set up several attacks from good throw outs. Five minutes from the break the visitors underlined their dominance by hitting a fourth goal. It was Butler again, who took the ball on the 18 yard line and swivelled round to stike a low shot to the goalkeeper's right to give the Classics a convincing half time lead.

The second half was only two minutes old when Jensen went in for a 50-50 ball just inside the penalty area. The tackled was six-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other but the referee had no hesitation in handing Aldergrove a penalty which they gratefully accepted by banging the ball convincingly to the left of a diving Hackel. If the home side had any thoughts of staging a come back it was washed away in the 55th. minute after a bullet was unleashed from Clark who was giving an excellent showing of himself since coming on. His intuitive play and swift interaction with his team-mates could have been interpreted by an innocent bystander that he was a regular of the team who played all the time with the Classics.

Snow made an appearance and showed no signs that he was carrying any injury although it was evident when he limped off the field at the final whistle. If was from a long Snow throw that the Classics increased their lead in the 60th. minute. Butler stole the ball from the keeper by tipping it off him and converting well to complete another hat-trick for himself. The Classics were refused a blatant penalty appeal when Clark was floored in the box but the referee has his hood too high to witness the event and he waved play on to the astonishment of the Classics players. Clark did have the last laugh though when he tapped in a Butler pass to get his second and the teams seventh and final goal with 15 minutes to go.

Bill McAuley was in danger of receiving the weekly award as he missed several gilt edged chances to hit the net but somehow, unbelievably, he was reprieved. In reality the visitors could have hit double figures had there been a little more sharpness around the box but it was a convincing enough result in the end.

Final Score 1-7 (0-4)

Stats:
Hat Trick: Jimmy Butler
MWG: Chuck McGill
Penalty Conceded: Danny Jensen
You were crap award: Larry Thorlakson