Even though "only" a draw this was one of our best results of the season, holding up against a top side as we've felt we could all season yet had struggled to prove. Bourne Deeping were a strong team and played an excellent game, but with skill, energy and a little luck we kept it open and held off the pressure this time. That means it's probably a good time for the seasonal "here's why everyone is so great" match report - any more frequent would be too saccharine but I figure one is okay.

Dan gets to go first because everyone unanimously (bar his own vote) recognised how great he was through the MoM voting. Dan literally didn't put a foot wrong in goal, saving shot after shot even on the tricky rebounds and unpredictable slips where he looked beaten for sure. Bourne Deeping took 14 short corners alone but scored from only one of them, with Dan needing to make a save in a good fraction of those never mind the field goal chances. An absolute performance of the season...so far!

Jan characteristically spent the game providing indispensable hockey basics: good positioning, good calling, good vision, ultimately being a midfield presence even while surrounded by Bourne Deeping's strong press.

Nev demonstrated his stick skills to maximum effect as speedy opposition players zipping by never could quite find the ball but quite often found his stick. Just what's needed to take off the defensive pressure.

Paul and Andy M get a joint shout out as the core of the backline through most of the game, constantly engaged against the rising tide of opposition forwards constantly intercepting our passes (which yes could have been better on all our parts but let's give them credit, this doesn't normally happen so they were doing something right on their side).

Rob kept our forward threat open. That includes a pleasing moment where we finally nailed the connection on a free hit just outside the 23, straight to Rob's stick and neatly deflected towards goal, put unfortunately predicted well by the opposition keeper. Rob also received lemon attention for not quite getting the right touch on an incredible reverse stick cross from Craig, but that leads neatly on to...

Craig played a brilliant harassing forward game, frequently being a vital outlet receiving the ball on the far side of the midfield scramble while turning neatly and proceeding up the field to make chances in the D - and that's before even getting to the goal he deflected in on our (only?) short corner. Our short corner success rate has been pretty good recently and this link up play is a great example of why. All that said, the team-judged most lemon-worthy moment of the game was a scoring opportunity where the ball made its way to Craig just in front of the goal, bypassing the keeper and all the defenders, but alas Craig's gigantic backswing for the ages giving time for them to get the block in. But I thought it was beautiful.

James P constantly tracked back and forth in a busy midfield game. Our marking was on point this game and this kind of constant effort is why, but that only works alongside the getting upfield and making space again once play turns around.

Etienne equally contributed in a tough game for a wingback, never having time to make an unharrassed pass but finding the positions to make it work in combination with the midfielders, and tracking forward again as an outlet when we did get the pressure off.

James M stepped up to the forward line in this week where we were slightly imbalanced towards defenders, and perhaps it was a perfect time given a defensive game was on the cards. Good positioning and again contributed to those breakaways that kept us in contention. As a general defender I'm sure James knows how worrying it is when a speedy youngster picks up the ball behind your midfielders and powers down the wing without slowing down, it's a delight to pay that forward.

Harry, having discovered he's a midfielder at heart, had the perfect opportunity to use his speed in this game of fast Bourne Deeping attackers, matching them for energy. Memorably contributed to a notable team breakaway, only getting unlucky that his reverse stick cross across the D didn't land as intended, but credit for it because it was absolutely the energy we needed.

James H put in his characteristic wingback pace, in fact being the only person other than Dan with a MoM nomination - i.e. that's Dan's vote - for the sheer distance James covered. Notably made it all the way to the opposition backline when needed, but still got back afterwards.

And I brought sweets and wrote this match report with the spare sugar.