ReUnited’s title hopes took a huge blow with this defeat to a strong Azzurri side. After losing our goalkeeper to a red card in the first quarter of the match it was always going to be a struggle.

The game turned on a moment after about fifteen minutes when Azzurri broke our defensive line and their striker tried to chip our stand in keeper. He reacted instinctively to bat away the ball but was outside his box which left the referee with no choice.

Azzurri scored quickly afterwards and then again before the end of the half. We responded positively in the second period and if we had taken one of our chances at the beginning of it then we might have gone on to trouble the Italians further.

As it was it was too big a mountain with ten men against a good side and the game (and perhaps title) slipped away from us.