Week two and everything looks good. Following the first round win, the only possible problem might be that five Reserves players still don't have ID cards: speedy recruit Steve Daw - whose muscle tear was keeping him out anyway; Bruce Fackerell - a late replacement for shock withdrawal Sam Tekin; Rob Liney - transferred from Sheffield United (well, Stannington); Emrys Hughes - who at least managed to get his forms in this year; and goalkeeper Johnny Barker.

Inevitably, the opposition insisted on the "no card, no play" rule, so we were left with exactly 11 players, including the less-than-inspiring choice of me as goalkeeper. Luckily, Browny had turned up early for the Firsts match and volunteered to don the gloves. Never was I so glad to be relegated to the bench just before a match. My relief at not being goalkeeper grew as the Rovers conceded a penalty within the first five minutes, although my hopes for the team were shaken as Marrickville thumped the ball authoritatively into the net.

As the game progressed, it became clear that the red shirts had not been training much, as the Rovers ran them ragged. The midfield and forwards in particular kept winning the ball and setting up attempts at goal, although the Balmain defence was strangely uncoordinated and allowed Marrickville much too much space. It turned out, though, that Balmain's greatest obstacle was going to be the referee. Clearly desirous of forcing both teams to play his idea of football, the man in black had by half-time given Balmain a penalty (effortlessly taken by Ally Haining) and Marrickville a second (for nothing more than straightforward defence by Donny Nicholas). Fortunately, a superb Haining header from a looping cross and a well-taken goal by Ben Jones left Balmain in front 3-2 at half-time.

The second half was more of the same, really. Marrickville got tired, angry and confused while several Rovers let the redshirts (and the blackshirt) get under their skin. Michael Sommers lifted his arm one time too many and received a yellow card, as did Ben for - well, just being Ben, I think. By that time, the ref may have remembered that he'd carded the youngster last week but forgotten to write it on the match sheet. He also apparently didn't notice that Jones scored again not once but twice.

Ally scored again and James Mackie pumped another one in, just reward for some hard work by both in midfield. To everyone's amusement, Ally thumped a clearing kick into the whistleblower's right kidney, at which the ref could only smile wanly. Pier had a perfect shot stopped by the opposition goalkeeper's one genuinely good save of the day. Mark Bamford skimmed the bar and the post a few times, while Jon Drea made some penetrating runs down the left flank. Matt Linton and Brian Yeung worked hard in the backline, too - although all the orange defenders have homework to do on winning the ball from opposition clearance kicks - and Browny was largely untroubled in goal.

I came on for the last 15 minutes and had a fine time shadowing Marrickville's striker, who also happened to be their nicest guy. We chatted, we laughed, we occasionally ran a few yards. In the end, Rovers won 6-2 (despite Ben having scored three times, not two), which was adequate reward for a scrappy match that exposed a few flaws in the Rovers Reserves game.

The Pele points go to:

2 - James Mackie - a consistent link from defence to attack
2 - Alister Haining - played with gusto and guts
1 - Ben Jones - kept the ref busy in every way
1 - Pier D'Angelo - provided energy in the midfield

Having saved myself for the arduous task of helping out the Firsts team, my services were (of course) not required, as Manager Nick Vince successfully negotiated the use of the cardless David Hynd, Dean Da Silva and Paul Millard. Still, there's worse things in the world than sitting in the shade at a pleasant park in the Sydney suburbs, scoffing the canteen's last sausage roll and watching cockatoos flock over the river.

Firsts had no time for such pleasantries however, as Hurlstone Park (paired with Marrickville B Reserves in another piece of Association inspiration) took the game right up to the Rovers from the get-go. It was Pier who noted that these blokes could play, despite being "fat and funny". HP did seem to spend an inordinate amount of time hurling insults at each other, but hey - better them than us.

Ammon and Millard troubled the keeper a few times early on, and with the same conservative ref in charge, it was no surprise when a penalty was given for a foul on Millard in the box. Paul took the shot himself and duly put it away for a 1-0 lead.

The rest of the half offered little to get excited about. Ammon and Millard continued to dance with the ball up front. In midfield, Dave Hynd won plenty of ball, Dean Da Silva ran the line, Clem was highly creative (some lovely through balls) and Eddie cajoled everyone to do more, faster, better. Andy kept things calm at the back, Nik and Kon were reliable and Glenn tore a calf muscle (running between wickets isn't training enough, I'm afraid) to give Reserve Paul McDonnell a chance to shine - which he did. Browny was a rock in goal, yelling in his usual triplicate: "yeh, yeh, yeh", "now, now, now", "time, time, time".

Still, it wasn't very exciting football. More heat than light, with everybody working hard for little reward. Same story for the opposition, mind. The game seemed bogged down in midfield, where no-one was able to take control despite individual pieces of hard work and occasional flashes of brilliance.

Nothing much changed in the second half. It should be said here that this really is normal - what you might call bread-and-butter football. A goal from Hurlstone Park might have changed things, but instead it was the fresh legs of substitute Nick Agafonoff that delivered the ball into the HP net, having come on for Ammon for just this purpose. Martin Hofman replaced Clem in midfield and the match was pretty much in Rovers' keeping.

It was hard work, though - and no-one worked harder than David Hynd, who kept trying to hustle, bustle, chip and charge his way through the defence. Dean kept making runs down the flank and Eddie kept trying to urge everyone on until even he stopped believing there were any further gains to be made. When the Hurlstone Parkers did get near the Balmain goalmouth, Browny simply scooped up the ball and fed it back upfield.

This was a significant victory for Rovers. The opposition was good enough to trouble them, but they rose to the occasion and played out a difficult encounter, coming away with a deserved 2-0 victory.

The Pele points go to:

2 - Dave Hynd
1 - Paul Edwards
1 - Matt Clementson
1 - Craig Brown
1 - Dean Da Silva