After our now ritualised pre-game warm-up, we took straight to the most important matters first by pumping up for a team photo shoot.

The game started with Alford presenting with only ten men, the eleventh being their missing keeper. As usual, we gave full belt from the get-go and managed to secure an early short. Sadly their keeper had already arrived. A nifty drag and flick (definitely not a drag-flick) from Dom R saw us on the board early. Then Dom N scored. A few plays of hockey later, Nev had his eyes on the prize, running early to goal and squeezing the ball between the keeper and post.

Two fruitless short corners later it became apparent that our short routine was being anticipated, with Alford defending well. Dom N scored another. Towards the end, Matt got a green as he felt the pressure of a tiring opposition, with no subs. But this didn’t deter South from another aggressive attempt at goal, where a pre-emptive cheer was heard in order to claim a goal that may or may not have happened but certainly wasn’t awarded.

Dom N scored another. A great upfield play from South saw Ed, on his own, receive the ball on his strong and decide to take on three defenders who were still discussing some technicality about players being in the D and not five on a free hit. Ed switched to his reverse and swung.

More dominating play from South resulted in Alford getting verbally frustrated with each other and warned to cool it. Moments later the visitors were awarded a penalty flick only for MSG to bounce it away. Shortly after, pressing on a sixteen, we managed to secure possession and, with a lovely little lift from Nev to Ash, we placed another.

South began to wonder if the game was ever going end and a momentary lapse of concentration saw us concede. During the middle of the second half, Dom got himself a green for being Dom or probably for saying something unhealthy. Once he remembered to ask, he was permitted back on.

Oh, and then Dom N scored another.