Three points. Four ghouls. One hat-trick. And a striker who apparently doesn’t believe in arriving before pushback.

The Willows returned to winning ways this weekend with a hard-fought 4–2 victory over Saffron Walden, lifting us into 7th place.

Things didn’t exactly start according to plan……

As in true Willows tradition we saw ourselves 1 - 0 down just ten minutes in as Saffron Walden took the lead with goal that would see the hockey greats rolling over in their graves. Some would say the sound of the ball hitting the backboard woke the dead…… Queue the Willows arrived into the game, including Jack ( stuck in traffic) Tranter, finally gracing us with his presence.

Arriving five minutes AFTER pushback, with no warm-up and seemingly no concern whatsoever for the concept of timekeeping, Jack evidently decided that the best apology would be goals AND goals he delivered.

16 minutes in Jack stepped up to take a penalty stroke and dispatched it clinically in off the crossbar. 1–1. Game on.

Half-time saw the sides DEADlocked, with everything still to play for. but with the start of the second half it was the Willows really came alive.

✨ Enter the illustrious Rob Simmons!

On 50th minute came a moment of sheer artistry from Robert Simmons.

With all the grace and elegance of a man who knew exactly where to be, Rob applied the crucial delicate touch inside the D threading the ball through a string of players to put the Willows ahead.

The crowd erupted, the opposition were stunned, and Rob added another masterpiece to his growing collection.

The beautiful game, ladies and gentlemen. ??

Before Saffron Walden had even had time to regroup, Jack Tranter struck again just a minute later.

3–1. Two goals in two minutes. The Willows were flying!

Naturally, being the Men’s 5s, we couldn’t possibly make life straightforward.

Saffron Walden pulled one back on 60 minutes setting up a scary final ten minutes.

There were green cards, a few heated moments and enough drama to remind everyone that three points in this league are never handed out easily.

With William Beecroft running rings around the opposition all day the opposition opted for a moments rest in the middle of the park with Will had provided the perfect cushion…… but with the clock ticking towards full-time, there was one final twist. Queue the perfect final penetrating run from Will 69th minute ball across the D to none other than…. YES you guessed it JT himself with a clinical finish to put the result beyond doubt, seal the 4–2 victory and send the Willows home with all three points.

Not bad for someone who missed the start of the match.

⚔️ Elsewhere in the league...... It was a bloodbath with goals were flying in left, right and centre this weekend.

Bengal Tigers demolished Old Southendian 10–3, Chelmsford smashed eight past Southend in an 8–2 victory, and Tower Hamlets recorded a convincing 5–0 win over Braintree.

Clearly Division 4 forwards decided Halloween about strikers providing nightmares for the keepers!!!

#PURPLE TILL WE DIE