Another heavy loss. Words are coming harder and harder to find about these. At least we scored, which we haven’t done much of in the league this season (just our fourth goal).

Our team again showed mass changes from last week, which isn’t helping any. Not that there was anything wrong with the individuals abilities as new faces included Ian, down from the 2s and very welcome for it, and Simon Cooper on his club debut, who looked a capable player. But when your seventh league game requires a round of names prior to the start to introduce the players to each other, the chances are your teamwork is not going to be A1.

As at Spalding last week, we somehow survived an early onslaught without conceding and kept the first half fairly close. Horncastle did move ahead when they intercepted a sixteen-yard hit and quickly countered, working the overload well to give a tap-in.

We were still in the game when the half-time whistle sounded, and out of it inside the opening minute of the second-half. Horncastle were awarded a short as time expired in the opening stanza which had to be completed before the teams could turn around, meaning our visitors could send everyone up. As it turned out the extra bodies were not exactly required, as the main striker flicked at goal, which drew a good glove save from Johnny B, but one which didn’t quite clear the circle but fell perfectly back to the main striker, who crashed it into the corner.

Horncastle then attacked straight from the second half opening push-back, nearly scoring instantly as Johnny saved a shot and the rebound was smuggled away from the line with the goal gapping. A very brief reprieve as from the subsequent sideline it took two passes to feed a player in the circle, who pulled away from his man and thumped home on the turn.

We pulled a goal back a few minutes later as Rob’s reverse stick cross from the left deflected up off a Horncastle stick and flew across the circle to Paul, lurking two yards out, centre-of-goal; he volleyed it into the roof of the net. Quite what our sweeper was doing standing two yards out, centre-of-goal during a passage of open play is dealt with in the Lemon-of-the-Match above. If there were any hopes that this might be a turning point they were dashed in seconds, as a poor attempt to control the ball gift-wrapped possession to Horncastle in a dangerous area, and they quickly worked a simple finish. Just to prove the rest of the defence were watching, a fifth and sixth soon came and in both cases featured an attempt by a South stick to corral the ball which presented it neatly to Horncastle.

Two more goals were added in the remaining time, and we had suffered our heaviest defeat so far. When will it end? Hopefully next week, at March...