First game of 2026 and we dropped straight into it, mid storm, no training, no rhythm, and absolutely freezing. A lot of games across the league were called off, but not us. One o’clock pushback, ice cold pitch, and the sort of weather that makes you question every life choice that led you to outdoor sport.

We went into the game sitting fifth in the league and finished the day exactly there, which felt earned and solid rather than stagnant.

Today’s conversation is with Jen. Not because that’s unusual, I talk to Jen all the time. In fact, I probably talk at Jen most of the time. She often tries to hide from me. Occasionally she succeeds. Today she didn’t. Today she engaged. So naturally, everyone else gets to hear about it.

Jen and I have that older sister relationship where she leads calmly and diplomatically, and I buzz around asking questions and providing unnecessary commentary. We also play netball together, so she really can’t escape me. She’s six foot one, an absolute powerhouse, and a captain who lifts people quietly. She never tears anyone down, she just brings everyone with her. That leadership showed again today.

We talked about the season, about sitting mid table, and about how this team is building properly. Jen is big on consistency and standards, staying calm when things are messy, and trusting the structure. She genuinely believes we’re excelling defensively right now, and that clean sheets come from shape, discipline, and trust.

The game itself started cold. Literally and figuratively. The first fifteen minutes were scrappy and disjointed, and Havering didn’t help by starting without a goalkeeper. On paper, that sounds ideal. In reality, it was chaos. None of us could quite settle, and I personally looked like I hadn’t picked up a stick in a month, which, inconveniently, was true.

Then, after fifteen minutes of confusion, their goalkeeper finally arrived. She jogged on, barely warm, barely ready, and for reasons known only to hockey gods, that is exactly when I decided to score.

On eighteen minutes, Jen picked the ball up, looked up, and slid a perfect pass through. I remembered what Sam always says at training, take one step into the D and shoot. I did exactly that. Hit it hard. Post. In. One nil. First goal of 2026 and, crucially, not disallowed. A rare and beautiful moment.

Ros later admitted she was planning to bench me in the first eight minutes, which feels fair.

From there, we settled.

The back line was outstanding. Aimee anchored it superbly, strong, switched on, and completely unfazed by the conditions. Becky and Emma worked tirelessly, reading danger early and clearing decisively. We kept a clean sheet today because of that defensive unit, and Aimee quite rightly took Player of the Match.

Midfield worked hard. Zarah ran the middle with composure. Elise was sharp down the right. Amelia provided width on the left. Everyone rotated, covered, and kept the shape intact. Ali had work to do and did it well, staying focused and steady whenever she was called upon.

Our second goal came in the thirty seventh minute. Jen again involved, directing traffic and pulling defenders. I was told very clearly to get myself onto the p spot. I did. Chloe made absolutely sure the ball crossed the line. Two nil. Proper team goal.

The second half was about control. No panic. No silly mistakes. We pressed when we needed to, sat when we needed to, and trusted each other. Not a single goal disallowed, which tells me there is always a price to pay. Today that price was frozen feet, cold showers, and what can only be described as greasy pizza eaten in a car.

Post match chaos was elite. We were sent to the clubhouse. It wasn’t open. When it did open, the showers were cold. The teas hadn’t been ordered. They then ordered food that took forty minutes. Meanwhile Max was running the bench and then had to sprint across town, with the unforeseen time stress now to umpire the four thirty game because she is the ultimate club person. We left still cold, still hungry, still waiting, and ended up eating takeaway pizza on the move. By the time we left, nobody had regained normal body temperature.

But it didn’t matter. Because we won. Two nil. Ali kept a clean sheet. No disallowed goals. No jacket of shame. No dick of the day. Frankly nothing was topping the teas episode anyway.

We now head into a rest week. No game next weekend. A chance to thaw out, recover, and come back ready to go again, still fifth, still climbing, and very much in this season.

This has been Spicy Spicy, the podcast nobody asked for.