The Vets managed to muster only 8 for the 4.30pm push back at Broxbourne; the late start and injuries to several key players accounting for this. Broxbourne had 13 players so gave us 2 – their 11 against our 10.

The game was a fast one and Cambridge South had to defend well against the home team, who had at least two dubious looking vets in their forward line. However, South took an early lead only to see Broxbourne then score two goals. CS kept on fighting and half time saw the teams level at two-two, the South goals coming from Phil Smith and Richard Bettison.

The second half continued at the same fast pace. The extra man that Broxbourne had started to show and within ten minutes of the restart they had taken a two goal lead.

But South kept on playing good hockey and some superb defending and superlative goal keeping from the man who had reluctantly volunteered to pay in goal on Wednesday evening, kept South in the game. The goalie’s saves drew applause from the opposition on several occasions and cries of frustration from their attackers.

Cambridge South didn’t give up and hopes were kept alive when Richard scored his second following a good, fast move through the middle with John Bicknell finding Roger Craigen who then moved the ball on to Richard, well placed in the middle of the D, who had time to beat his marker and then the keeper.

With a minute to go, Mark Brittain scored the equaliser with the Broxbourne defenders seeming powerless to stop a ball rolling across the circle past an unsighted goalie.

And there the match ended; a 4 –4 draw with South playing a younger Vets team with only ten men. Well fought lads.

It is a great pity that the goalie, who was man of the match, closely followed by Phil for his tireless running between attack and defence, doesn’t want to play in goal on a regular basis. Think again Mick - you were BRILLIANT.