And so the season began with Chelmsford 2s at home. We quickly learnt that our bare 11 squad had a 3 man (thank you injured Chelmsford captain) deficit to Chelmsford's young team - this was going to be tough.

Pre-game, Chelmsford asked for 2 balls having left theirs at home, maybe we shouldn't have done that...

We fought hard throughout the first half but chances were mainly coming for Chelmsford. We did grow into the game and created some chances for ourselves. A couple short corners for both teams came and went with no goals, but we did learn that Chelmsford were changing up their routines. Clearly realising their inefficiency from top-D, they soon found the backboard from open-play. Nestling in the far bottom corner I shall still blame Joe Mann (gone but never forgotten). Speaking of keepers, John H returned to let everyone know he was alright before finding a new continent to sleep on for the foreseeable. A fitting final performance between the posts for our first game and made some great saves to win the MOM votes.

With it being 1-0 at half time, we still had hopes of the win. My hopes of finishing the game were evaporating as my back decided it was time to give up. Clearly Jacket had manifested my newly attained OAP status by saying that I was 30 so many times before pushback. As the youngest member of the team, Theo W stepped up to the RB position. We attacked their D and I came very close a couple times in the second half but couldn't deliver the final pass or shot, chipping the keeper is more important than the backboard anyway. But our worries of having a bare 11 were soon realised. Our legs were going and they soon put another 1 past us. Jacket was so impressed that he high-fived their goal scorer straight away. Our post match team talk was generally positive given the circumstances and we should be well equipped to beat them when we visit Chelmer Park. JOS went to Théo C (author of this report) being an old man. 25 years young ladies and gents!

After teas, we went pitch-side to watch our well-earned competition for the year. 1s by name, 1s by nature, so they say...