KaisAYRslautern 1 Sizzling Saints 7 23 October 1999 Sizzling Saints were looking forward to this one. After the fine showing in the Erin Tourney confidence was high and Saints travelled down to Ayr with a near full strength squad plus the addition of new squad member Derek 'Delbert the Bald' Money. After assembling at the King George V parks in Heathfield it was noted that the pitch was in superb condition. A fine playing surface and one the Ayr lads should be proud of. After the introductions were over a referee was appointed from the KaisAYR subs and the game got underway in the hazy morning sunshine.
Goal number two was soon to follow. A mix up between two Ayr defenders allowed Mark L to intercept the ball and he easily beat the last defender and scored with an accurate shot into the bottom right hand corner. Soon after Van Haddock hit the post with a volley from a cross by Craig and Ben Fica also came close (to the corner flag!!) when it looked easier to score. However Van Haddock was soon to pull a goal back in the 'Dream Team' scoring contest when Mark L intercepted a poor goal kick. he placed the ball in front of the inrushing Haddock and a tussle for the ball between Haddock, an Ayr defender and the keeper resulted in Haddock lifting the ball over the keeper from the 18 yard line to make it 3-0. Sizzling Saints were beginning to catch fire however Ayr were committing virtual suicide by presenting chances to the predatory Saints strikers however the next two goals were well worked.
Ayr did mount a few attacks in the half however most of these were comfortably dealt with by the centre back pairing of Brian McN and Kenny K. Half time and 4-0 to sizzling Saints Ayr came out fighting in the second half and put Saints under a bit of pressure however Gloves pulled of a few saves and the defence was holding firm. Ayr were passing the ball well in midfield but lacked penetration in the final third.
The pattern of the game remained much the same with Ayr performing much better. Sizzling Saints on the other hand contrived to miss a few chances mainly due to a lack of passing in the final third. Perhaps everyone was wanting on the scoresheet. The sixth goal came 10 minutes from time when Saints forced a corner on the right. Anto delivered a perfect corner to the near post and Tony Tiger headed home from close range. Gloves in the Saints goal must have been contemplating his first clean sheet for the Saints when a chance out of nothing fell to an Ayr striker at the edge of the box. A high looping shot should have been dealt with but Gloves only succeeded in palming the ball into the roof of the net for Ayrs consolation goal.
The final whistle went and a well earned victory for the Sizzling Saints. It was time to head to the Drouthy Bar for a few pints with the Ayr lads before taking in the big game at Somerset and double victory celebrations. Man of the Match Award goes to Derek 'Delbert the Bald' Money playing his first game for the Sizzling Saints and showing that although he has an 'old head' his legs are far younger. Match report by Tony Tiger, Mark L and Mark G.
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Saints wearing their change (well, borrowed) strips in black and red
kicked off and immediately put Ayr on the back foot. The goal came inside the first few
minutes when Craig found himself clear down the right hand side and made for the by-line.
His weighty low cross deceived everyone (including the Ayr keeper) and found its
way into the net. 1-0 Saints.
Goal number four came from a surging run by 'Delbert the Bald' down
the right hand side. He put in a high cross to the far post where Tony McG was
waiting to direct a looping header back across and into the far corner of the net. A
great finish and Tony (just back after injury) showing Mark L and Mark G that Sizzling
Saints are not short of strikers. 
Goal number five came midway through the half when a headed pass by Ben Fica
into the path of Tony McG who laid the ball in for Mark L to beat the offside trap and lob
the keeper for a fine goal.
As the final whistle drew near Saints completed their victory when Tiger was
sent free of the defence on the right hand side. As a defender closed in Tiger
played the ball to the inrushing Delbert the Bald who took one touch and slammed the ball
home for a well deserved goal.