For the second installment this season under the new dictatorship of Sophie and Colin, the mixed team hosted Saffron Walden. Having been annihilated (probably a bit strong but I've spelt it now so it stays in the report) by St Ives in our previous match I assumed my team mates were keen to give us the best chance of success this time round by getting an early night. However, at 1.30am/2.30am (whatever it was) my slumber was unexpectedly disturbed by a picture message from my co-captain informing me that not everyone else in the team was taking this game so seriously:

I won't dwell on not being invited to whatever this event was...

Anyway I digress. Most of the team got to the pitch on time, except for Ali and Laura, who like living life on the 'Edge' (do you get it?????) and arrived with a minute to go, and who also had our shirts. We used this minute wisely by having a team photo, taken by our very own Chris Pearson. I still don't know what motivated him to come and support us, perhaps he just wanted to take artistic pictures on my phone, like this one:

Jack Chalk, who still seemed to be suffering the trauma of his stick breaking yesterday, also came to show his support. We were grateful for their support, as well as Daniel/Dan/Danny's (whatever it is) wife, who tipped the number of supports 3 to 2 in our favour and made sure their travelling fans didn't try any mischievous Mexican waves or chants or anything.

A quick formation was picked (1-2-4-2-3-1 or something was suggested by Jess but that was too many numbers to add up to 11) and the game began. The first half was best described as attack (SWHC) against defence (CSHC) with probably 85% of the game being played in our own 23. However the opposition were playing to our strengths and a very experienced defensive line up of Jason in goal, Diane (with her old stick as her new stick is rubbish), Tom, Laura and Daniel/Dan/Danny (whatever it is) kept Walden at bay into the break.

The star of the show was Emma Moss, who showed no sign of a hangover from the frivolities of that event the night before (did I mention I wasn't invited!?!) and was putting in block after block, keeping some very skilful Walden players from having a go at goal. My best memory from the first half was her body slam of their big, mean centre forward, which was remarkably similar to this clip I found on YouTube:

The objective set at the start of the match was to give our opponents a good game so that we would be invited to play at theirs later on in the season. This was reviewed at half time and the new plan to play for a 0-0 draw was implemented. I know that sounds boring, but trust me it was far from it. The midfield were worked hard with Adam, Simon, Wilco and Ali all playing well.

With ten minutes to go Walden managed to score from a strong hit from the top of the D. South pressed hard for an equaliser and came close through efforts from Lou, Jess and Sophie, the closest being in the last hit of the game where Sophie narrowly missed the right post. But it wasn't to be.

This was an excellent game throughout the seventy minutes and I'm sure Walden were pleased to have had to work for their victory. I'm confident we will get a re-match, which will make life easier for finding more mixed games in the future.

Many thanks to Graham and Serin also for a fine display of umpiring.