Tammy Wynette, perhaps more famous in the UK for her surprising yet very successful collaboration with the KLF rather than for being, in their words, the First Lady of country and western (sorry Dolly fans), famously lamented that sometimes it’s hard to be a woman. She should have tried being the OSHC 4th Academy XI.

On Saturday I saw the future. There were wonderful 40 yard ball transfers around a well structured back four. Johnny and Riley perfectly marshalled those around and in front of them. Jack picked tackles like an old hand: Lucas, Ryan (who turned out to give us what he could despite carrying an injury) and debutant Nick Popham stretched the game and made space for us to play into. Billy and Jannick, our joint men of the match, bossed it on the wings and both had great games. There was also a touch of welcome nostalgia in the form of Henry o’kill, whom we welcomed into the team for the first time this season. Whilst have might have opted to lose the hair on his legs, he has lost none of his old ability.

In the first half we played the best we have played so far. It was an open game and we had the best of it. It somehow ended 0-0.

The second half was not quite like the first. WF stepped up, we stepped back. We invited pressure onto ourselves. Two WF goals followed. We upped it in the last 10 and the game opened up again. Beardo’s ability to throw aerial bombs from the back helped and provided a welcome release of pressure. We should have used it more and earlier (my fault, not his, although his entire lower body cramping up at the same time early in the half didn’t help). Simon Preece scored our goal, his second of the season, after a characteristic Frank Lampard-esque surge from midfield was paired with with a solid finish. He had a very similar chance just a couple of minutes later but unfortunately nearly killed a man second time around. Thanks must go to Suzie Williams for her pitch-side first aid. We had a golden late chance to grab an equaliser but it wasn’t to be this week.

Everyone chipped in with another massive effort for which I thank you all. My promise is this- if we keep up the effort and progress the results will come.

Jacket of shame went to David ‘hands of stone’ Robeson. He was last heard moaning into a pint about how having to work 5 days last week was somehow to blame for his performance. I think 3 games played and 2 jacket wins tells a different story.

To close, I’ll steal from Tammy one final time- Saturday sees us all aboard and bound for Tower Hamlets. We are justified and (some of us) are ancient. They make not like what we are going to do but they had better stand aside, because we are coming through!