Before deciding it would be overreaching a little, I tried to frame this report around some sort of weather metaphor. The game starting in the cold and fog, with the weather improving seemingly with each goal we scored and in the end our first, long anticipated win coming in warm sunshine. I decided, in the end, to put it in simpler terms.
This isn’t another week where I talk about this team being close to where they want to be. This is the week I get talk about them actually being where they want to be. This is the game they stepped into the sunshine. In even simpler terms, they played a great game of hockey.

We went into the game missing a few of the senior regulars- with Boy Band (who took sideline duties as the elite coaching team were excluded from the cage. Insurance reasons were cited), Dr No and Nicky Chandler all absent . We had Stan, Nick Popham and Johnny back and welcomed Matt Soares for his 4th xi debut. We also were blessed with a truly rare piece of fortune on Saturday morning; I’m not convinced the opposite of a cry-off is a cry-on but whatever it is, Henry made himself available at 1030 and by 1040 Jake had decided he was not to out brothered and stuck his hand up too. We were set.

I won’t go through every pass of the game but from the start the boys we’re at it. They had great shape and gave themselves options whenever they had the ball- to which point, they had the ball. They played some proper possession hockey. They dealt well with the early exchanges and gradually started to impose themselves on the match. The work rates, commitment and composure everywhere on the pitch and from everyone were absolutely outstanding. Henry scored our opener after a fine bit of work saw him fouled on the edge of the D. He took the hit quickly, stepped into the circle and beat the keeper for pace with a good strike across him. The second came after some smart build up work down the left gave Stanley the opportunity to slot his first 4th XI goal at the back post. We saw out the half at 2-0 up.

The old cliche of us not wanting the half to end applied (or at least for us on the sideline) and my team talk reflected that. Keep it simple, keep doing what you are doing and keep up the work rate. I expected a reaction from Havering but none really materialised, not against us anyway. The second half started as the first had ended and chances came from the start and throughout. The third came with yet another excellent finish from James Beardwell. We could, by the end, have had a couple more goals.

I could single out every single player for praise. They really were excellent to a man. So good were we that that Johnny, back in goal for us after a half term break in which he circumnavigated the world (Phileas Fogg is furious apparently), didn’t get called on to make a save until after the 60th minute. Luckily, so good is Johnny that when he was called upon, having been little more than an observer for 60 minutes, he pulled off a fantastic save from Havering’s first penalty corner of the game to make sure they knew this wasn’t their day. The boys saw it out and 3-0 it was.

We didn’t need to waste any ink on the Jacket of Shame vote. Late in the second half Beardo looked to send one long from the back but got the yips and launched a squarial crowd bound, sending the spectators on the terrace viewing area diving for cover. No one was hurt luckily.

The MoM vote saw half the side get nominations, and it would be no exaggeration to say the other half would have been equally worthy nominees. The result saw Stanley and Si Worrall tied at the top. Coach’s deadlock vote (a thing I’ve just come up with) gives the win to Stanley, who had an outstanding game at right half. Well played young man.

This, however, must be only the beginning. We absolutely, positively, unequivocally have to build from here. If you guys bring that level of commitment and execution every week, you will. Wining feels good. Let’s do it again.

Keep the faith. We go again!