The c. 25-minute drive to Saffron Walden, from Central Cambridge was rather uneventful. I decided to listen to one of my current favourite podcasts – the Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast. The Australian and Belgian co-hosts combine exquisitely to deliver one of the best preview & post-race analysis cycling podcasts, highly recommended.

I led the warn up this week which was taken in the traditional setting of the car park next to the astro. Pretty classic set of stretches: up on your toes, “A Bit HigherTM”, Feed The Chickens ©, lunges, side lunges, Sumos and open the gate*. It was at this point I offered the team to undertake their personal stretches, no one took me up on my offer.

So, onto the game. Huge away support for South consisting 2 x WAGs. Captain Shin led his standard pre-game team talk which usually goes something like… “Walshy, I think you had a few points to say”. Chris Walsh followed up in setting out the tactics for the game. 

A point that would be good to note now is that Saffron Walden were expecting to play our 2s, but Jan decided to make things a little harder for us and sent us along instead. By half time it was 2-1 to them, but shortly into the 2nd half we grabbed two quick goals back. One of these was from our short corner – Routine Number 1 (given this match report could be read by our future opposition I won’t divulge details about what Routine Number 1 is, but if you know, you know). Not sure about the 2nd of these two goals though, it was probably scored by Eric Wong, he’s a decent player so I would put money on it that it was him who got the goal. A lack of structure meant we eventually lost the game 4-3.

Other highlights from the match include:

• Dan Loy’s attempt at a Sqaerial (Square Aerial for the uneducated), which ended up on a completely different trajectory to the one intended.

• Adam Catley showing off his new found pace in a 60m dash against an opposition forward, for which he won Man of the Match.

• Jonny Camp believing Saffron Walden had installed goal line technology, which automatically changed their electronic scoreboard when a goal was scored.

• Us starting the 2nd half with 10 men because I was signing autographs with the aforementioned fans.

So yes we lost, but how were match teas?! I couldn’t tell you. I had to dash off to Saffron Walden for a dinner date so I’ll talk about that instead. Bangkok Thai Restaurant was the eatery of choice – 4.3 stars from their 111 google reviews. I would probably rate a 3 (at a push). We ordered the mixed platter for 2 to start, and I followed that up with a Penang Gai Curry (and a Singha beer naturally). Would I go again, probably not. Instead I’ll be sticking with my usual Thai restaurants of choice in Cambridge – Luk thai @ The Cricketers or The Wrestlers pub.

*You thought I’d missed close the gate, didn’t you? Well, I didn’t, it followed open the gate.