So here it is – the last game of the season at Fortress Long Road for Cooper’s charges. We’ve had some classics here over the previous eleven fixtures and today was no different against promotion-chasing Spalding 3s.

Buoyed by the return of ‘Sparkling Star Man’ Inshaw and being able to field a squad of thirteen, the lads were confident. Wanting to sign off the home games in style, our boys pulled off what was (from my view on the sidelines) one of the performances of the season. The opposition helped the quick flow of the game with their style and attitude - it is no surprise that they are up the top of the pile with one game to go. They wanted to win to ensure promotion; we wanted to win because that’s the South way!

The first half was definitely not a classic, as both sides cancelled each other out (forwards, beware of the scathing pen of the Mann Lemon vote). The visitors dominated the early exchanges but South came to the fore in the last twenty, as the swift rotation through the forward and midfield lines and the movement they gave allowed chances to be carved out. Both Nelson and Lamming had opportunities to give South the lead but their chances either whistled past the post or found the keeper up to the challenge.

Normal half time discussions were thrown around over the chomping of Fangtastics. “More movement”, “More accurate passing”, “We’re doing well, with a bit of luck this is ours”, “Where are we watching the Rugby today?” Most of the conversations were appropriate.

The second half was better from a South point of view. Several short corners were won but not converted and again a couple of one-on-ones were created but not taken.

Not wholly against the run of play, but frustratingly enough, Spalding took the lead. A big larrup into the D from the left evaded our defence and popped up to the young lad at the back post, who baseball walloped into the net.

Could we respond? Yes, we could, but from the most unlikely of sources.

I didn’t believe when told, but apparently Coops scores one goal each season. He had threatened to push on and attack in earlier matches, but each time had to retreat from the nose bleed. Two games to go – when was it going to come? However, this game he had an excuse to make a foray into enemy territory, out of necessity in the last minute to inject a short. He galloped up with glee.

First there was the expert chuck to Hollywood at the top of the D, stopped dead; off-load to Walshy; then Walshy’s shot, however, is going wide… Like a Jedi cat, Cooper pounced on the loose strike, thrusting out a stick behind him to brilliantly deflect it into the goal.

Mayhem ensured. There was bedlam in the stands. Chaotic celebrations on the pitch – so energetic was the hug between scorer and assister that there was a coming together of the former’s fist with the latter’s eye! Seriously, Coops - you punched him in the face?!