Having enjoyed a little reconnaissance trip to San Sebastián (purely in the interests of hockey research, naturally), it was time to bring a little Basque flavour back to the pitch.

Ipswich were expected to provide a stern test, having already taken points off some rather good sides in our league. Cambridge South arrived in their bright yellow best away kit, looking very much like the main event on the menu. The team was also riding high on the back of some superb training sessions this week (or so I'm told – did I mention I was otherwise engaged sampling the local cuisine in Donostia?). The warm-up was sharp and strong, and we weren't put off by Ipswich's seemingly endless supply of players. Whatever had been going on this week, the team was ready to deliver Michelin-star service.

The starters

The whistle went and South wasted no time getting stuck in. A few transfers round the back, Maegan finding the line ball with the sort of reliability we’ve come to expect from her Tortilla Espanola (the classic Spanish potato and egg omelette; dependable, consistent and always delivers).  A few triangles (not of omelette this time, but actual play in hockey triangles that Tim would be proud of) up the sideline and suddenly we were in the D.  A strike, a rebound and then a beautifully placed second strike from Tess.  1-0 in less than five minutes, and the first course was served.

The pressure from South continued, with short corners arriving on the table in abundance. Evie, making her debut up front and determined to demonstrate that she can play absolutely anywhere, stepped up to take the first one.  A solid strike, but well saved – clearly their keeper was tougher than a perfectly cooked beef cheek.  Plenty more to come from our Goxua later in the meal, though – this traditional Basque layered dessert with sponge, cream and caramel really is a complete package.   Amy was next to add a little luxury to proceedings.  A lovely bit of silky skill, a clinical finish and we were 2-0 up inside of 10 minutes.  Our Bacalao al Pil-Pil (salt cod with a silky sauce of garlic and olive oil) was proving every bit as smooth, composed and technically gifted as the menu promised, making difficult things look easy.

The remainder of the first half was, for the most part, a delightful feast for the defensive unit to enjoy. Katie C was producing some customary flair, making tackles that nobody thought were possible: our deconstructed pintxo was keeping everyone entertained, doing things in ways that nobody could quite have predicted.  Up front, our forwards were linking fabulously, combining flavours and textures in a beautiful way.  Amelia’s Tempura Prawn was bringing the pace and explosiveness, darting into spaces and leaving defenders scrambling.  Our press was unbeatable, with Izzy S reading Ipswich like a well-thumbed menu and making some quite exceptional interceptions. This slippery Kokotxas al Pil-Pil (delicate cod cheeks in a glossy garlic sauce) was gliding past sticks and proving almost impossible for the opposition to get hold of.

Eventually Emily then got her reward. After some excellent work in the press, our Txistorra finally found the net. This one is a fiery little spicy Basque sausage, often served on a piece of bread: full of bite and certainly not one to be underestimated.  We finished the half with another short corner; not our neatest execution, but our Tortilla Poco Hecha Kim thrives in such situations. Deliberately undercooked, a little runny and wonderfully unpredictable, she somehow managed to hold it all together and produce the goods.

First course over, 4-0.  Time for a few minutes to digest what was a rather satisfying first sitting.

The main course

The second half began with the usual instruction to treat it as 0-0, and South duly obliged by getting straight back to work.  It didn’t take long for Amy to find the net again, another solid strike from our luxury Bacalao. Clearly one Michelin star wasn’t going to be enough today. Two goals and a masterclass in silky skills.  

Sophie, meanwhile, was not prepared to be left out. Having already been busy producing some superb tackles, she decided that wasn’t quite enough and added a goal of her own. A rather special Txangurro Tartlet (rich spider crab filling in a crisp little pastry shell): strong, full of hidden substance and not just there for decoration. Fun fact, Ipswich are the only team Sophie has ever scored against for Cambridge South. Perhaps we should arrange to play them a little more often!

The defence were making excellent use of the transfer round the back, with Lucy's Tuna Tartare proving precise and composed, finding the right pass (nearly) every time. No need to make a fuss when you're working with the best ingredients.  We linked up beautifully with Tildy in the middle, and our Cochinita Pibil (a spiced pork taco and a proper workhorse of the pintxo scene) was putting in the hard yards, providing plenty of substance and keeping everything moving.  Katie L, our feisty Gilda (olive, anchovy and pickled guindilla pepper on a cocktail stick), was proving that even the smallest things can pack a punch – although on this occasion she did get rather literally taken out by an opposition player.

Tess was developing quite a taste for playing in inner. Our Basque Cheesecake was delivering exactly what you'd expect: beautifully caramelised on the outside, pure quality within and an absolute showstopper when it arrived at the table. A thoroughly deserved Player of the Match.  Sharing the honours was Evie, who continued to make excellent inroads up front, causing all sorts of problems and capping off a brilliant debut in the front line with two goals, including a confidently dispatched penalty stroke. Our Goxua really was the complete package today – all the right layers, and then some.

A little drama with the bill

With just a few minutes remaining, the back line decided that proceedings were becoming a little too comfortable. Lou hadn’t had an enormous amount to do all afternoon despite us dragging her all the way to Ipswich, so we thought we’d give her something to remember the match by.

A slight miscalculation in a transfer sent the ball rather generously towards the Ipswich centre forward. Thankfully, Lou was ready with her Setas a la Plancha, a wonderful little morsel of griddled wild mushrooms: understated, dependable and quietly excellent. She duly helped avert the crisis and normal service resumed.  Until, that is, we attempted another transfer round the back. Yours truly, stationed on the baseline, decided that having two feet on the ground was all a little too conventional and opted for a rather more horizontal defensive approach. Perhaps one too many glasses of sangria had been consumed in San Sebastián, or perhaps I'd simply got a little too carried away with the Picantillas (spicy little tuna tartlets with mayonnaise and chilli). A fiery contribution, certainly, but not necessarily the one the team needed. The Lemon of the Match was duly awarded.

Fortunately, the crisis was averted once again, and the final whistle brought a thoroughly deserved three points.  Time for a siesta.

The after-dinner digestif

A huge shout-out to Kerryn, who took on chief babysitter duties, and to our little mascot Fin. The Ipswich changing room has quite possibly never witnessed such unbridled joy at the sight of a toy fire engine and a few wobbly steps. A little reminder that sometimes the simplest ingredients make the best memories.

Eight goals, fifteen pintxos, a clean sheet and a little taste of the Basque Country. Qué rico