Given the teams’ respective league positions after two games, this was a fixture which could be a cliff hanger. The teams from the North are always a threat, especially in their own backyard.

So, the M1s travelled on a long, long journey, passing seven other clubs on this day when it was raining, cold and we didn't have a keeper. Hats off to Mark for convincing eleven players to do a hour hour trip to play seventy minutes of hockey and providing that bottle of vodka each on our way home!

Laurie stepped up and said - "I can be a keeper!" You little hero!

We reached Louth about forty-five minutes before the start of the game and our warm-up was not too bad. We had some shots at Laurie and he proved more than what we were expecting. One of the last shots of the warm-up by Bhav injured Laurie's calf muscle! Do we have a Louth player playing in a South t-shirt? "Ten Angry Faces!! One Ashamed M1 Midfielder!!"

When the whistle went for the start of the game we understood why & how Louth put nine past Peterborough 5s. They we running circles around our midfield and some of the passes from the back line were very good.

The M1s' defence of Colin, Dave, Jack R and Jack C stood firm and absorbed some of the initial attacks. Once ten minutes were over, our midfield players John, Chris, Williams and Bhav settled in. Oli & Si were trying to bully the defence but with no subs they could only do so much.

In one of the few attacks we had in the first half, Si was one-on-one with the Louth keeper. Si was unlucky not to score a goal there.

Louth scored the first goal on a counter attack. The ball appeared to bounce off the Louth player's body and with Colin requesting the ball be given to the South players, the opposition played on. The ball reached the South D and, with a scramble, went in the South net.

0-1 in the first half then.

Williams got his troops together, appreciated our efforts and also wanted us to close Louth down quicker and come to the ball when receiving it. Just two points and off we went again!

In the second half Louth's young players were again running circles around the M1 midfield. In once instance the same Louth player ran around Williams thrice and without moving from his position too much, Williams was able to mark his player with ease.

Louth went up 2-0 after another counter attack.

This did wake up the M1s and our attacks became more potent. Simon and Oli were seen more and more in the Louth D. Oli was successful in winning a penalty corner and South scored. The first hit came as a rebound to Williams and he was able to flick the ball into the net with ease. 1-2.

As soon as the game started the ball was won by the South midfield and passed to Simon. He passed it accurately to Williams, who was cool as a cucumber to put it past the Louth keeper. 2-2 with 15 minutes to go.

Louth scored their third. 2-3.

Chris P and John were combining well in these last minutes on the left flank and it looked like they had been playing together for years. John was indeed having a very good debut.

Chris got us our fifth penalty corner and Simon stepped up to take the drag flick. Simon was spot on & scored South's third.

Why do the M1s play better when they are 0-2 down? That's a million dollar question!

The last five minutes of hockey was played in good spirits. Bhav was trying to flirt his way out with the umpires and not getting any cards.

3-3 in the end.

Match teas were exceptional and Louth can get the award for being an over friendly club!

All in all it was a not too bad result for South, who kept their league campaign on track without losing too many points and snatching one from Louth.

We will have tougher tests coming soon; to pass those tests we will need to communicate better as a team, pass the ball quicker and be confident on the ball to get better success.

Once again we are able to supplement the match report with an excerpt from the diary of C Pearson.

You never know what will happen on a long drive. After my typical though preparation for hockey the night before, I awoke refreshed and ready, as per usual. Little did I realise that today would be much more important than just a hockey game.

After about seven hours of driving I pulled over at a petrol station to hydrate and then I saw her: her face lit up as I pulled on to the forecourt. When our eyes met over a chicken and bacon sandwich and bottle of Apple Tango, I knew she was The One. She was perfect and had never met anyone from outside of the small village near Louth before. I think this worked in my favour and she instantly fell for my charm and my farmers' fingers.

But I am a committed man to the South cause! I could not stay with my wife-to-be as I had a hockey game to play. "I am here all day", she cried, as I waved my goodbye. I was understandably distracted in the game, which is why I did not score.

At last it was time to go and, eager with anticipation, I set off at breakneck speed. However disaster struck: the sat nav decided to take a different way home and I never saw her again. As I drove off into the sunset wondering what could have been, only my "Best of the Noughties" punk pop album could have cheered me up. Luckily, it is always in the car.