They all count...

Hostilities with the Great Unwashed resumed on Tuesday night, albeit between our respective reserve teams, and it was us who drew first blood, recording a 3-1 win at the Stadium of Shite. Just as at Accrington last Wednesday, fringe first-teamers Peter Lovenkrands and Ryan Taylor were on the scoresheet, after Nile Ranger - who wouldn't have scored if he'd played for 90 hours that night - had got the ball rolling with a goal of his own.

Debutant Sol Campbell was withdrawn at half-time, by which point we were 2-0 up but also one man down, Xisco having been on the receiving end of a daft red card. The Mackems' only consolation, though, was an 87th minute penalty.

Let's hope for more of the same when the first teams meet.