Westminster Casuals kicked off the New Year with their first win in two months.

As so often with the Casuals these days, the drama started before kick-off with another availability crisis as Russell, Lucan, Lushy, Macca, Jazz and Nico were all unable to play. The Casuals were at least able to welcome back long term injury victim Andy Thirsk and club legend Ian Hardy also made himself available.

Most surprising however was the Paul Scholes-esqe return of John Skelly from retirement and his presence was a big morale boost for the team. 
 
With so few defending players available, Gaffer Toff switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Grant, Brain and himself at the back. Skelly sat in the middle with Lester and Hitman as the Casuals went in search of a much needed victory. 
 
Both teams clearly had a few too many mince pies over the festive period and the opening exchanges were evenly contested. Battersea took the lead on the 30 minute mark when some poor Casuals defending from a corner allowed the Battersea striker to score with a glancing header past Ralphy. 
 
The Casuals worked hard but for all their huff and puff struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Adam Hancox went close, with a shot on the turn which was turned over the bar. The Hitman looked certain to grab his 199th goal when a brilliant first touch set him up for a volley but he somehow blasted over from two yards.

However, it was the Hitman who set up the equaliser with a clever flicked header to Young Dave who made no mistake from close range. 1-1. 
 
The Casuals just about shaded the second half and scored the winning goal in the 85th minute from another well taken Lester corner which Toff excellently headed home. 
 
There was still time for some late drama as the Battersea winger hit the bar from an acute angle in the final minute, but the final whistle confirmed a much needed three points much to the delight of the Player-Manager. 
 
"It was a thoroughly impressive performance and I was very proud of the team as we walked off the pitch, with every single player having stood up and been counted" he said.

"Such was the quality and fighting spirit this has to go down as one of the best performances I've seen in my four years with the club.

"The number of top class individual performances was impressive, from D Brain putting in probably three of the best tackles I?ve seen this season, Skellberg and Hitman fitting in to midfield as if they?d never been away, Stu Lesters discipline and work rate helping on both sides of the ball in midfield, to Adam and Thirsky, both low on match fitness working tirelessly away up top. 
 
"The bar is set, and we must as always aspire to go above and beyond. Anything short now of such a performance will be disappointing. Lets show up and do the business again on Saturday against Puretown, and I?d hope some of the absent players are a little worried about their starting spots for the game."