Let`s start on the bright side with a tale of two cities, where both Brechin in the Highland League and Truro in Southern League South each had good 4-1 wins against Forres Mechanics and Chesham United respectively.  The city of Southampton, meanwhile, is in deep mourning for the failure of the Saints to overcome visiting Wolves live before a worldwide television audience yesterday.   They were undone by a combination of a well taken Wolves goal, slack defending, absence of midfield creativity and a powder puff attack, all of which conspired to produce the 1-0 defeat.   Chelsea away next weekend - dancing in the streets decidedly on hold, to be fair.

However, continuing the brighter theme, Maidstone United won again, this time a convincing 3-0 win away at Bath City.   This result leaves them well clear of third place but marginally behind near neighbours Dartford who top the National League South following an impressive start to the season.   A local derby or two should be fun.   

And Gillingham also achieved a decent result, drawing 1-1 away at Oxford but it was our perennial minnows at the extreme ends of the country that produced expected defeats.   Fort William`s 3-0 reverse at Huntly was in keeping with their run of defeats although the manner and size of those defeats is nothing compared to the ritual double figure mauling suffered in previous seasons.  Hope springs eternal and all that.   In a similar vein, Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police FC (STATPFC) continued a losing streak of their own,this time going down 6-1 away at Torpoint Athletic.  They will take comfort in Sidmouth Town keeping them off the bottom of the South West Peninsula League Premier East Division following Sidmouth`s 10-2 home defeat against Welton Rovers.

I`m often asked why I don`t follow teams that are more successful but I enjoy the uncertainty, the romance, the desperate hope that things will get better - so much more agreeable to follow clubs with whom I feel an affinity (Southampton was the first proper game I ever saw when my Dad took me to The Dell to see my then local team play in 1946) and the earnest hope that the minnows might one day turn into rainbow trout.  Mind you, they do say that it`s the hope that kills you.

Have a good week.