Penultimate game. Final away trip. A chance to ensure we go into the final week with our fate and dreams of promotion entirely in our own hands. With a roster of 13 and stuffy warm weather it was looking from the outset to be a tough tiring game.

Cut to some wonderfully spacious changies, Sam's playlist receives a standing (and sitting) ovation despite opening with an unusual number from what I had believed was his college's B-team youth orchestra. I'm told they are called 'Mute', which I'm convinced is a self deprecating hint to listeners, but it seems to bring Sam some joy. The tide turns favourably shortly thereafter, with Sam injecting Florence and the Machines, Jay-Z, Glass Animals and closing out with sigur ros (fair play) to make for a respectable mix. The Champions league theme as tunnel/walk-out music certainly speaks to the momentousness of the... Moment.

The game gets underway at pace. Props to Brentwood, they brought a strong game, pressing high on our 16s throughout. They secure a shortie and a couple shots on goal but are unable to convert.

Taking Will's pre-match quote from Bruce Lee to heart ("Don't aim at goal" or somesuch - maybe chalk that one off in future Will?) new guy George breaks the spell goes on a storming run up the left wing, though he appeared to adopt Jackie Chan's Drunken Master (1978) style as he ambled through all 3 of Brentwood's defensive lines. Still shaking off the rust ey George! But a shortie is won and the Sexy Boys are spurned on; shortly thereafter Jacko finds the net for a scrappy goal and a subsequent short corner routine ACTUALLY pays off - Sam injecting short to Scott, back to Sam on the left post to slot away goal #2 easy as anything. 

Brentwood didn't relent and were hotly protesting decisions that didn't go their way, their coach actually demanding to know the reasoning behind some fairly banal calls. So at half time we were 2-0 up, but there was still a long 35 minutes to hold on through.

Injuries start to rack up. Sam puts his body on the line for his team (M1s) yet again, taking a stray drag flick to the hand; he subs himself off but comes back on despite his right hand resembling the Michelin man's. What a trooper. Jacko was less keen to push through his hamstring injury (skiing stag-do had to be considered), meaning we were effectively at 11.5 players for a good deal of the second half.

At one point Nik was unlucky to concede a short, but somehow managed to get their forward sent off with a green? It came to nothing and, either from that or after an intense period of Brentwood possession in our third, Connor breaks away sprinting on the counter and makes it all the way to their D. A slip to HL7 tees him up beautifully to get back on the score sheet... Only to be deprived of his stick by their keeper. P flick. Tim steps up, eager to maintain some streak or other; sends the keeper the wrong way, 3-0! And with that (or like 20 seconds later, who's counting?) the game was over.

We go into the final week of the 24/25 season with a win or draw securing our place in East Prem. Harpenden away was an unconvincing win, but with a strong roster and playing at home, anyone could be forgiven for having high hopes.

MOM - me, I did great.
LOM - honourable mentions Ozzy (loves a pink rim) and George (tantalising debut lemon opportunity), and myself (thinking the game was done after the p flick). But it ultimately goes to Will for working on his diving routines. Tuck, drop, roll, and come up protesting to the umpire - still needs some work, umpires sadly don't yet seem convinced.