So, after 6 weeks of mincing, it was finally time for an important match. Preparations had gone well: team was out early, the new James Bond release was well timed so that Friday night thoughts turned towards cinema instead of lash, and to top things off, Manchester University held its “reading week”, enabling Tom Watson to come home to play for us, and more importantly, get his washing done (and perfect his strawpedo-ing apparently)

Warm up went without too many mishaps, except for Average forgetting his stick, which apparently is a big deal. Whatever mate, hockey’s all in the mind. Anyways, with the BK leading the warm up (which *coincidentally* meant Ring of Chaos was absent) and making sure we were well stretched, we were definitely ready to roll. Sideline talent count was 2 by the way, for those that were wondering.

So, we were ready to smash ‘em from the off and start with a bang. We didn’t. Within a minute or two, the Centre forward had ghosted (Halloween banter) through the defence, only to be thwarted by Parker in the goal. Unfortunately the forward pounced on the rebound to loop a Hawkes short corner style shot into the net, despite the best (but ultimately, mediocre) attempts of Average to keep it out on the line.

After this goal though, we did spring into life. Passing round the midfield was brilliant, and we were beginning to find gaps in the Wis defence, particularly on our right hand side. Chances came and went: Twatson sent a reverse stick shot just past the post, Laurie sent a drive inches wide, and Gareth thundered an undercut against the upright when it looked as if the net would bulge. Up the other end, our defence had woken up and despite a short corner shot whistling past the upright at half time, there was no real danger.

Half time team talk: G-unit stressed the team was playing well and that heads shouldn’t drop, even if Wisbech got another goal early in the second half.

So, after the break, South came out all guns blazing, and Wisbech scored again. This time you couldn’t blame anyone- the forward unleashed a rocket into the bottom corner on the reverse side, not too shabby at all. But South did react this time. After another Twatson (who was having a fantastic game) strike cannoned off the post, a through ball found G dawg who struck a powerful shot into the far corner.

Five minutes later, South were level. Another great through ball found Graham, who produced a goal straight from the Finn Johnson school of finishing: slow, dribbled, bobbled over the keeper’s foot, but ultimately very effective. Two-two, and Wisbech knew the last quarter would be a real struggle.

And it was. We pushed forward in desperate search of a winner which would send us clear at the top of the table, small chances came and went, whilst they were looking dangerous-ish on the counter.

Then the unthinkable happened. With three minutes left, Wiz cannoned the ball towards the goal from just inside the 25. The ball passed through one, two, three south sticks, before finding the unmarked forward to deflect home past Steve’s despairing dive from all of 3 yards.

We pushed forward in search of a second equaliser (or Ekwalizaa, if you’re Finn), but it didn’t arrive before the final whistle (in fact it didn’t arrive after it either). We certainly didn’t deserve to lose, but credit to them, they took more of their chances than we did.

General positives to come out of Saturday were:

- We went toe-to-toe with the team now top of the division

- For the first time ever against Wisbech 2’s, there wasn’t a fight

- Related to this, no-one touched Steve’s kit

- Tom Watson is having a great time at uni, even if he can’t strawpedo.

- The guys at bowling know Finn’s name

- I don’t drive a Rover anymore

- According to John, Skyfall is pretty good so make sure you go and see it.

Another big game at Rutland next weekend, to get our season back on track. Apparently they’re all about ten years old, so we’d better not lose!