ALAN Ball, Ray Wilkins, Howard Wilkinson . . . Colin Dyer?

Will the Citizen soccer team boss be the next managerial casualty of the season after his side crashed 6-3 to the All Stars on Sunday?

Quite frankly, the Stars were on a different planet while most of the Citizen lads were well spaced out.

Player boss Dyer refused to be drawn when questioned about resignation or the sack and remained defiant.

"We'll have 'em in the return leg," he muttered, pint in hand, propping up the bar. And that was before the game!

But he was reasonably gracious in defeat. Choking back the tears, or was he trying not to be sick, he admitted: "It's the first time we've come up against such a side. We had difficulty coming to terms with the quality of their players such as Kennedy and Keeley. But I think they were lucky to get away with such a big score."

The Stars could even afford the luxury of a double penalty miss from their huge keeper Warrior, of Gladiators' fame, of course.

His first effort was superbly saved - or could he just not get out of the way in time ? - by flying photographer Rob Underdown in goal.The second ricocheted off the bar.

The Stars ran the show, even without Warrior who received a red card in the second half for verbally abusing the referee.

The only bright spot on a dull afternoon for the Citizen was a fine hat trick from striker Danny Morton.

But the team was severely hampered by the loss of his strike partner Gordon "Rav" McCully who limped off with a hamstring strain 15 minutes into the second half.

Keeper Underdown suddenly appeared to develop terminal sciatica and found it difficult to bend his back as the goals flowed past him.

But seriously, a superb afternoon at Brinscall Football Club was enjoyed by players and spectators

The Stars, who also included Brookside's Max Farnham and Jambo from Hollyoaks, had a great time and have promised to return for another match.

Proceeds from the clash, watched by around 200 people, will go to the Lancashire and Lakeland Cancer Unit and Kevin Keeley's soccer coaching school.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.