Well it was yet another unseasonally warm afternoon at Warners Bridge, as Brentwood 4s travelled to take on the 5th XI.

Amongst their ranks was Old Southendian's former facilities stalwart Phil Herrtage, who taking up a central midfield role would no doubt be looking to twist and turn his way through the 5th XIs collective clutches.

However, the lads had other ideas.

Saturday's side saw Matt Soars return to the squad, Darren Stoner line up for a long overdue 5th XI 26/27 debut, and Steve Smith returned to a roving forward role alongside Clarky after weeks of putting in a stint out wide. Filling the hole in central midfield left by the absent Fessey-0, loosely rumoured to be undergoing a hair transplant procedure in a Turkish clinic, was the craft and guile of Prit Mandair, and after a few weeks out injured the return of Nasher bolstered the defensive ranks. Sadly we lost Mr Goddard on the morning to the aftermath of a dodgy vindaloo and a niggling hip injury (related?).

As always, we talked pre game about the need for a fast start (or at least not a slow one), to let the ball do the work (in the absence of willing legs) and to play to the whistle and respect the umpires at all times (who for this game were Suzanne and John P...thanks both).

The game started and a cagey opening spell settled to see the 5th XI control most of the ball, working it well between the talented duo of Prit and Pedro, with Steve haring about up top, and Giles smothering the occasional Brentwood break. Clarky demonstrated an early example of his enduring mobility, when pirouetting on the spot and ending up on the floor. Out wide, Russ and Matty Soars were putting in a great shift, Matt especially working relentlesly hard to get up and down the line tracking Brentwood's energetic number 11.

25 minutes in, and Old South took the lead, with a ball into Clarky deftly finished, and no less than the 5th team deserved. But a pattern was emerging of an over-eagerness to look for the long ball to the fox-like front man seeing us thwarted time and again.

Half time came, and the importance of remaining patient and controlling the ball was reinforced, with it increasingly clear that Brentwood lacked presence in midfield and their preference being to move from attack to defence at pace.

So the second half started as the first half had ended....Old South controlling the game and the ball, working it wide and through the middle, Darren and Rob providing assured support from full back, and the midfield maestros keeping things ticking over.

Then out of nowhere, Brentwood equalised...the 6'5" wonky-kneed powerhouse of their side (who had earlier ensured Steve escaped the umpires wrath from an overzealous attempt to win a 50:50 by simply being more massive) found the ball on the left most side of the D, and unleashed an unlikely tomahawk reverse strike that travelled like a bullet past Holmsie in goal. We looked at each other as if Lord Lucan had come riding in on Shergar, such was the out of the blue nature of the strike, but it was time to dust ourselves off, shake off the shellshock, and go again.

The sudden parity slightly rattled the Old Boys, no more so than Pedro...who after a smart bit of aerial skill enacted by Steve up top was somewhat harshly deemed dangerous (following a Brentwood appeal), had a bit too much to say serenading our officials, and was promptly given his marching orders. Pedro is top of the East League South East Mens 6 League Table for this particular contribution as things stand and will be tough to catch, with a number of the other team members well represented. Nothing if not a fiercely competitive bunch:

However once Pete returned to the fray the game turned. A short corner well won was swiftly dispatched by Giles on 56 mins to put us back in a deserved winning position, and just like this match report....Brentwood started to run out of steam. Giles again on 60 made us unassailable, and on 63 minsutes the move of the match saw the Skipper release Steve Smith out wide, who found Matt in the D and he swept the ball home for the Old Boys 4th and the last goal of the game.

Following the latest edition of the 5th XI round table, Clarky was adjudged the recipient of a beautifully enriched Jacket of Shame following his early game tumble, and later that night Matt Soars was crowned Man of the Match for his tireless efforts.

Next week we travel to Havering, in touch with the top of the league, buoyed by the return of young prospect Austin Beamish, and looking to build momentum into the pre-festive run.

Stubbo.