If you will, I would like you to take a moment to reflect upon the pheasant who needlessly sacrificed himself in front of my car on the way to today's match. Amen. It shook me up greatly however I am beginning to get my head around the tragic loss. Another few wines/beers and I am sure I'll be ok

Today we visited Spalding. Drive north to the middle of nowhere and keep going 19ft under sea level at one point, along the bumpiest roads with the deepest ditches for another (what seemed like an) hour.

Today Jack and I travelled together with Annabel part way. She took it upon herself to make sure she knew Jack much better by the end of the journey.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you to Jack Chalk:

Favourite colour Green 

Has a brother, no sister

38 years old, just had his Birthday (13th? September)

Works teaching Maths

No pets

Riden an elephant before

If any of this was remembered wrong (Jack did have to repeat all of this several times) then I apologise in advance.

On to the game.

Spalding were an organised side with some useful players. Relegated last year, they were never going to be a push over. They adopted a high press and pressurised our defence.

They quickly went 2-0 up. I saved one off the line by mopping up a loose ball next to our goal line, behind our keeper Ben. Saving a certain goal by putting it onto the approaching attacker's feet so he kicked it in. On the awarded 16, a loose pass saw them score almost immediately. 

We played some useful hockey and were deservedly only 2-1 down at half time.

After the whistle we equalised quickly with a well worked control and lay off from Joe W to Johnny who slotted it into the corner. 2-2.

The game was finely balanced but the work rate from Spalding didn't let up and we found ourselves 3-2 down.

I think we equalised it to 3-3 with a rebound off their keeper put high into their net.

A shot on goal was nearly stopped by me but deflected off into the net. 4-3 down.

Spalding tried to kill the game however South pressurised right up until the end.

The game could have gone either way. It was unfortunate that their keeper played a blinder, on another day we could have scored a few more. 

One thing which was great was the umpires. It was really good to play a game when everything was called right.