Similarly to the 1-6 game at Old Trafford, the early exchanges gave little indication of what was to unfold...

Player Manager Fantastic, Neil Mancini, left the lads to fend for themselves against FS Scheut. On Friday, he floated across to the UK on his sky blue cloud, still exultant/ecstatic/aroused/intoxicated (delete as (in)appropriate) by City's freak win against United the weekend before. His parting shot read: " Ladies , Here's the squad .... Arthur Hart, Sean Richards, Oli Kompany, Barry Lescott, Roberto Clichy, Munish Silva, Cian Balotelli, Totti Toure, Gown Johnson, Ben Aguero, Carlos Milner. Be there (rosieres) at 11.45am , shinpads/black shorts/black sox, valid ID cards & money for celebratory beers. Do me proud ! Mancini"

As ever, Barry Lescott completely ignored the instructions, arriving at the ground at 12.29 or about two hours after his last pint. While Bazza was pulling on the yellow and black changed strip (thanks Massimo!), the rest of the lads got into the customary 'one team, one dream' huddle and plotted for a 6-1 victory.

Similarly to the game at Old Trafford, the early exchanges gave little indication of what was to unfold. FC Scheut began brightly, weaving pretty little harmless triangles around the RBBFC troops. Gradually, however, Totti Toure began to get his foot on the ball in the middle of the park and the tide turned. A goal was so inevitable that the referee took matters into his own hands, awarding a penalty for a clumsy shove on Ben Aguero. Cian Balotelli stroked the ball into the bottom left corner, although he was clearly aiming for the top right.

The shackles removed, RBBFC4 piled forward. After a spot of pinball on the right hand side of the pitch, the ball landed at the feet of Cian Balotelli close to the end line to the right of goal. The goalkeeper inexplicably jumped high into the air, performing an unlikely splits, making it possible for Balotelli to slice the ball into the onion sack as he sought to square a pass to the onrushing Carlos 'the Jackal' Milner.

During the half time break all the talk was about scoring another, conceding a fluke and then scoring another three. Alex Kidd and another unidentified supporter turned their backs on the pitch and started springing up and down enthusiastically. Somebody belted out a verse of Wonderwall.

The FC Scheut boys were clearly happy to play ball and early in the second half scored an own goal of gorgeous simplicity, the right back cushioning a cross beyond his desperate grasp of his keeper. 3-0 and cruising.

Aware of the script, the RBBFC defence engaged in a spot of dangerous keep ball, which led to the Scheut left midfielder curling the ball into the top left hand corner of Arthur Hart's fortress. 3-1.

At this point, FC Scheut decided to make three substitutions. Warming to the theme of the afternoon, one of the substitutes refused to come on. After five minutes of shuttle diplomacy on the sidelines, the substitutions were made and Scheut threatened to force their way back into the match.

Sean Richards, Oli Kompany, Roberto Clichy and an increasingly sober Barry Lescott held firm however. After one Scheut incursion, Kompany launched himself at the ball clearing it to Balotelli who slipped Ben Aguero through on goal. A nutmeg and a delicious lob later, RBBFC4 led 4-1.

They piled forward. Munish Silva and Gown Johnson switched wings as elegantly as a bird canoeing. The crowd chanted "it's just like the Alamo". The referee did his best, sending off one Scheut and carding most of the rest. But alas and alack it wasn't to be. 4-1 it ended.

The man of the match vote was a romp for Mancini. He'll be paying for the six rounds of gin and tonic and one bottle of Bolly next week. Have it!