They went to the country of Suttonistan with their visas & passports sorted. Captain Marcus Decimus Meridius was in the state of Columbusland and so was unable to travel with the team.

The young boys of Suttonistan were pacey and the newly laid long Sutton pitch was helping them. After the first few attacks were averted by the M1 defense, they found themselves against a decision which will be remembered long in long Sutton. Despite South's claims that the ball clearly hit the South stick but the umpire in the other half, about 40 meters away, awarded it. Penalty flick against M1; was this the first flick against M1 in 17 years?

The flick taker didn't know who he was against. They don't touch his kit or flick balls past him. They don't call him Steve The Opponent Fan's Heart Crusher for nothing. The flick was taken and he flew like superman to his right and South M1 heard hearts literally breaking on the sidelines.

M1 sorted out their defense and then attacked the Sutton D like we all attack bacon and eggs on a Saturday morning.

Graham produced a reverse stick thunderbolt (I saw that it was a thunderbolt others don't agree with me) which took the opponent keeper in the net along with the ball. 1-0.

Paresh was instrumental in the 2nd where he passed from a penalty corner with geometrical and trigonometrical accuracy to Graham and he only had to touch the ball to make it 2-0.

Ed, Jack, Graham & Chris combined upfront to score the third. Jack's goal meant that we were 3-0 up at the half time hooter.

The 2nd half started as the first and the tiny tots of Suttonistan were all over M1. The difference in this half was that after 10 minutes the score was 3-2. Scary!

But the meanest defense in the league held on to the lead and we survived the onslaught by Sutton.

We do need to mention this to some of our attacking players that if a ball hits a defender's foot in the D and you don't put enough effort of getting the ball and it trickles over the back line, new rules say "take a long corner because you did not put enough effort".

The pitch was not in good shape but the rain and the green moss around the guidelines meant - sliding was easier.

Thanks Suttonistan for the lovely teas, we didn't contemplate going to McDonald's.