What to expect from a new season and a clean slate? Well the perfect start from a determined group of men. We started slow but grew into the game and we had a lot of joy on both wings from the youngesters and through the middle.

Stortford started the slightly stronger side but we soon found a rhythm and by half time it was 2-1 to South. Bionic Rob hit in hard and low on the second attempt to open the scoring before Ali's solo effort doubled the score. We were unlucky not to bag a third when Rob's sweet strike from a short was thought to bounce back off the post as it returned to play. Stortford notched one back, and deservedly so, after a spate of pressure.

Now this is South M6s so there was going to be a time when we would relax a bit and we did so straight after half time, oh dear, 2-2.

But never fear we battled and to be honest if it had ended there a fair result for both sides. But no South had one more sting for the opposition and it proved to be their undoing. A move starting from deep with 4 or 5 crisp passes ended up with MoM Dan T on the right wing position. He cracked in a textbook-style cross for the seasoned Rob to deflect home. Great team goal!

The work rate, the commintment, the drive and most importantly the fun had by both sets of players proves why we play the game of hockey. A narrow win was the cherry on top of this great encounter of two very evenly matched teams.

Huge thanks to Georgia (debuting?) and Adam (certainly not debuting!) for umpiring and the vocal Southerner supporters, who's encouragement were convinced made a genuine difference.