The 16:30 start, which is  late – gave us one big question “would everyone have enough time to get back to get ready for the Hallowe’en party”?

South’s M4’s were up for this one – we’d had a week off and were raring to go.  Fair play to Spalding guys, the prospect of the late Saturday start and the long drive had not put them off.   They had brought along a squad of 15, a few fans, and in fact a cameraman!

However, we were confident, great availability mean that Matt had a few subs himself to organise and make use of – The skipper had it all planned, the starting line-up had been written in at least 5 colours, mightily impressive.

We started like a rocket pinning the visitors back into their 25 with a well-focused press.  And it wasn’t long until the pressure paid off.  Some quick thinking at the breakdown and our free-hit; Tom picked out Joe in the D.  The current goal King (which I think he has mentioned once or twice), jinked past the last man and spun around to get a reverse hit off, pinpoint past the keeper and into the corner.  Ensuring he was smiling at the camera as he did.

The pressure continued from South but we didn’t add to the tally initially.  It was in fact Spalding to regrouped, made use of their subs, and started to get a foothold into the game.  Quite a good foothold in fact as they put away a well worked short corner, no heroics today from John on the post.

It was around this time when I decided to up the ante and give the lads a bit of practise of 10 v 11.  Moments after the Umps had clearly warned everyone that the next stick tackle was going to get a green card - I eagerly dived in to break up play with what can only be described as a proper forwards tackle.  Wrong sound of stick-on-stick and a 2 min break for me.  Then when called back on I was even more eager to make amends – sprinted over to close down another defender.  Maybe a better challenge but not clean enough – the correct decision by the Ump, the yellow, and in so sealing the Lemon.  No complaints (well I probably did at the time – but none on reflection).

Now whilst off for the second time – I watched in awe as the lads upped the effort and put in a fantastic 5 mins.  Really putting Spalding on the back foot.  And not only grabbing the lead after a brilliant finish by Laurie from Tom’s pull back, but extending it with an absolute peach of a strike again from Laurie smashing in from the top of the D.  Champagne hockey.

So when back to 11 v 11 South were firmly in the driving seat and really confirmed this with a rather scrappy goal, bundled in from Tom after a bit of a back and forth in the D.  (sorry – I didn’t really see what happened here).

4-1 and half time; a bit of time to regroup.

We started the second half brightly and looked to push home the advantage.  It was a really good clean half of hockey were we added 3 more goals to round off the day.

For the whole half Laurie was on fire – playing like a man possessed.  For the teams 5^th goal he got hold of the ball on the right drove to the by-line and worked his way along, beating a few defenders and pulling back to allow Owen to pop it in.

More spaces were opening up over the pitch and South were really stretching the play, using the width as instructed by Matt.   One situation where Tom fed Owen in space on the right, seeing Joe in space at top of the D – played in the ball and the man with the golden touch did the rest, roofing the shot in.

The final goal was scored by Owen who in driving into the D found the defenders backing off and backing off, inviting the shot, which he did managing to beat the keeper at the far post.

The last 10 mins was a case of South keeping the ball and holding the visitors at arm’s length.  A real professional performance and class acts across the park.

Massive thanks to the Umpires for giving up their time and playing their part in a great game.