Long away journeys. Where a few of us gather together and drive down, discussing how we should play hockey, amongst other things. We could certainly talk a good game, focusing on our strengths and weaknesses, our reverse fixture happenings, and the key to success for a victory later that day. We discussed the permutations of other results, but ultimately we knew that our destiny was in our own hands, and a win would mean safety. No relegation. Further visits to the Lee Valley next year, via our favourite sight-seeing spot down the M11, where you can see the Shard and Canary Wharf glimmering on the horizon. But the boys we were about to play needed points to stay up too. The scene was set for a 'big game', as VC Harry Chalk would so often say.

South started strong, converting from a short corner (which sounds easy but statistically has proved exceedingly frustrating all season), after a well executed inject, stop and straight drag-flick, bulging the right side-netting just above the backboard, with Tom claiming the goal. A perfect start.

We doubled the lead in a matter of minutes, after a strong three man counter, with Tom passing from the middle to the left where Owen had found space, who subsequently drove straight in to the D and shot hard and flat, to be deflected in by Shin on the near post.

Going two-nil down in the first five minutes of a game often leads to a rout, but Berkhamsted to their credit got going after a slow start, in the form of a two goal rebuttal in quick succession. Within fifteen minutes, the game was two-two. Keeper Darren made some fine saves to keep it so, as the pressure on our defence intensified.

Just before the stroke of half-time we were awarded a short corner from another fluid counterattack, and this time Joel, from the top of the D, saw the defensive movement of the Berkhamsted defenders, who had piled on to their right post and, with the greatest composure, slapped the ball to the left, which was undefended. Joel's face showed the briefest of smirks which betrayed the rest of his cool composition. Not even a single hair from his new haircut was out of place all game.

Going in to half-time, three-two up, we assessed that we needed to tighten the centre of midfield, as they preferred to play in the middle of the park as opposed to using the wings.

This strategy proved a turning point as we secured our defensive end, with Harry Chalk, Tom, Mikey and Pearson bossing the midfield from here on in. Defensively, we were solid, systematically soaking up the pressure and winning it back before it got to our twenty-three. Joel stepped up to every ball coming his way and stopped their attack dead on numerous occasions, and they feared playing it down the wings, as Dave (who played better than average) and Bodster contained any hint of danger. Colin and Mikey's aerials were again spot on, launching many deep attacks. We looked dangerous on every break, with several chances created leading to multiple one-on-ones and unmet crosses past the far post. They eventually caved into the pressure again, leading to a highlight of the match, as follows.

Those who attend training on Tuesdays with our coach Paul will know we have been working on coming wide to receive the ball, and finding a high pass. For the fourth goal, South controlled the midfield, with captain Stu Rimmer finding a pass from deep to the right hand side just past halfway, where Shin had run into space. With a defender on his back, he turned to take on his man for pace, driving hard past the twenty-three into the D, whilst dribbling only with his dominant left hand. At this point, Chris Pearson, who had been running all day long (along with forwards Oli, Owen and Jim), made another lung-busting run across the goal from the left to the right, leaving a trailing defender on his knees. At this moment, Shin pulled off a man-of-the-match winning one-handed tomahawk across the goal to Pearson who, expecting the pass, with back to goal shimmied the oncoming ball back across the keeper for it to nestle gently into the far corner. Champagne hockey for a prosecco moment, as we cemented our status as a Division 2 team for next season.

Special mentions go to a Slick Nick for fitting in so well despite being busy delivering babies all year, and also to keeper Darren, who showed up when it mattered, keeping us level during a dicey spell. Not-so-special mentions go to Mike, who committed to the agricultural side of the game, shoulders and all, finishing the game off the pitch, as he received a yellow following his previous green. Despite this clear lemon contender, the eventual lemon went to Joel, for not playing to the whistle during the game. The opposition had clumsily tried to tackle a capering Joel in midfield, and took a tumble having kicked the ball. Joel, instead of picking up where he had left off, continued to appeal to both umpires, giving the felled player a chance to roll around a few times, get up, figure out that the foul had not been given, get the ball and start an unexpected counter-attack. Thankfully, the other defenders mucked in and snuffed out the effort.

The car journey back did not seem long, as we verbally wrapped up the match and gave ourselves plenty of auditory plaudits.

Here's to another year of Division 2 hockey. Safety.