On the eve of Hallowe'en, Manorbier produced a ghastly display, were bewitched by Merlin's wizardry, and thus ended up on the wrong end of a heavy defeat.

The day started badly when two of Manorbier's team went missing, and with the rest of the squad fearing they may have been body-snatched, it put the starting 11 in a state of unease.

Manorbier then proceeded to play like the undead. The defence was zombie-like, the midfield appeared to have been possessed, and the forwards may as well have been pumpkins, such was the lack of cohesion throughout the side.

Manorbier drifted through the first half, ghost-like, seemingly under the spell of a Merlin's Bridge team who were faster, fitter, and generally not playing as if they had just been resurrected from the graveyard.

Two-nil down at half-time, Manorbier felt they were still in with a chance of achieving parity - having comprehensively beaten Merlin's Bridge in the equivalent fixture last year - but once they returned to the pitch, they seemed drained of all life-blood and capitulated, helplessly, as the Merlins drifted through Manorbier's defence time and time again, as if shielded by a cloak of invisibility.

Crazy mistake after crazy mistake by Manorbier saw the scoreline reach embarrassing proportions, but ensured there was a good library of footage for 'You've Been Framed' (which given the reward of £250 per clip submitted, should see Manorbier's coffers on a par with those of Manchester City by the end of the season).

The one ray of light came when Jake Webster crossed from the right, and the Merlin's Bridge defender headed it into his own net. But by that point, Manorbier were decimated - quite literally - as the game ended 10-1 to the home side.

Manorbier expect the spell to be broken, and a better performance to be had next week.