Fast and loose, some big tackles, some hot, some cold, arguably the best we’ve had all season…the showers at Bedford went down a treat with the M1s.

On to the game, which turned into more of a rugby game… Bedford started quickly and intensely from the off, putting in some big tackles. Including one against Scott who nearly had his knee torn out and one against Bailey which required a blood substitute. The player successfully wrapped his arms to be fair so the umpire deemed it ok.

South eased into the game after absorbing some early pressure. We started stringing together some good moves including a lovely ball across the face from Irish James which narrowly missed a swan-diving Mark at the back post. Another passing move from Scott and Sam nearly ended in a goal of the season contender but the shot went awry.

Going into half time at nil-nil, Chalky started checking Bedford’s players for ringers as the rest of the team hygienically passed around Haribos…sanitising before each player took one of course!

Early in the second half a good opportunity arose from a lovely underhand pass by Sam which fell kindly to Pearson, who buried with aplomb. We then proceeded to ‘park the bus’ akin to an Atlético team in their prime (unfortunately this appeared to encourage their coach to adopt the role of Diego Simeone, who needed to be reminded he wasn’t actually playing multiple times). Despite there being over twenty-five minutes of the game left some resolute defending managed to limit the opposition to only one or two chances, with Chris only required to make one save all game.

All in all a good result which lifts us to fifth and out of the relegation spots, which could provide vital if the current ‘global pandemic’ ends us all… (ending hockey for the season that is).