The first league game of the season was against a familiar foe: Snods Edge and a sense of deja-vu was in evidence as well: the same score as our first game with them last season: 3 – 2. And like last year, we dominated the first half, scored two goals and could, and should have had several more, only to allow them back into the game in the second half as they drew level. Only a last gasp winner scraped us a win our general play and individual performances should have made a formality.

The day saw us start with only 12 fit players and a hurriedly drafted in keeper, Dave Newton. Although the beginning of September, it was hot, sunny and the pitch hard, with long grass in places. That combination was always going to sap energy, and it did. It was good to welcome new player, Matty Bayston to the team, and Ben Gurner, thankfully, was also on hand to lead the attack. Sadly, he now returns to Loughborough and hockey!!

Quite simply, we would not have been flattered by a 4 – 0 half time score line. Matthew Eley, who seemed to be able to cut the Snods’ defence apart at will, produced fine saves from their keeper, as well as unbelievable scrambled clearances. Richie Robinson was at his imperious best, with Ben providing an excellent and willing target up front. Matty Trotter played with his usual aplomb and scored our opening two goals before the half hour mark was reached.

Two nil is a dangerous scoreline in football. The next goal is always crucial: you score it and go 3 – 0 up and the game should be in the bag; let the opposition score it and the game’s psychology changes. At half time, Tim Wye-Williams told the team to take the offensive in the second half and to stay alert; Rog warned the team about Snods’ number 14, who was last season’s top league and cup goal scorer. What happened? We switched off and our lad from Snods was given two half chances and the score was suddenly 2 – 2 with Snods looking the more likely to go on and snatch an undeserved, win.

In the centre of midfield, Matty Bayston, who had hitherto dominated that area, was struggling with a groin niggle; so we switched him with Chrissy Whitehead, whose energy, commitment and never-say-die attitude is something everyone in the team should be inspired by. Needless to say, all of those qualities were to the fore during this game and how we needed them! Despite his injury, Matty B then went on a 50 yard charge down the right wing. We also brought on James Bridge for the struggling Eley, with the instruction to give us energy and legs. Bridgey did just that, both in defence and even more decisively in attack, grabbing the winner.

Dave in goal was excellent, barking out instructions and showing a consistently calm temperament and good hands from crosses, corners and shots. He certainly could not be faulted for either goal. Duncan McAuley (described by Jamie as “The Fridge”) was a colossus in defence and picked up our dropping off defensive routine very quickly and proficiently. Graeme Walters had his best ever game for the team at left back, making timely interceptions and tackles and John Belmont worked tirelessly for the team in midfield as others wilted around about him.

However, especial praise must go to Ste Farish, who was head and shoulders our best player on the day, leading by example, never giving up and displaying both energy and determination throughout the whole of the game. Football is a team game and he epitomises precisely what that entails: unselfish, does the unspectacular side of the game and never complains or gives up. He was the stand-out player and the main reason we won the game.


What Have We Learnt:


· Quite clearly individual fitness levels need to be worked on. Tuesday night is for training: not for fitness.

· We need to be more clinical in front of goal: we created over a dozen clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities and only scored three of them.

· Individually, when it isn’t “our day”, we still have to graft for the rest of the team.

· The defence was extremely solid (we lost concentration twice and paid dearly for it) and the shape and formation when dealing with high balls was excellent.

· There is an excellent team spirit and we need to feed off that and never let it falter.


And finally, the quote for the week, which sort of summed up the resolve of key members of our team, when we conceded our second goal:

We are like tea bags – we don’t know our own strength until we’re in hot water!

Sister Busche (a missionary)