M6s hosted Thurrock 1s in the prime 230 home slot. A top of the table clash with the M6s having started the season with three straight wins but our opponents with four straight wins having averaged 5 goals a game. Today would be a test. A test of our skill, our spirit and determination.

Losing the toss, we played into the sun with Manu saying at half time that he’d not been able to see anything which was a surprise given the way he’d stood firm at the centre of defence intercepting virtually everything. A closely fought contest saw honours pretty much even. Loughts, with much of the pressure, but few clear-cut chances won a couple of shorts, we were unable to convert. However, it was not all one way and Thurrock gave early warning on an ability to break with pace and power and with moments to half-time, another Thurrock break saw a two on one and a powerful shot from the top of the D into the bottom corner gave Sankar no chance.

Half-time focused on the positives and we came out strong in the second half. A clear win if nothing else for cliché bingo! Skills aplenty on show from our youngsters who continued to show the club’s future is in great hands. Plenty of possession, silky, mazy runs from Esa, effort and energy from Rhys, commitment and passion from Sohan but again we could create few clear chances. Short corner opportunities came and went. But the Thurrock breaks kept coming with Jag showing that the youngsters in the team how to position to stop a break making a brilliant interception when Thurrock looked certain to extend their lead. We huffed and puffed but we couldn’t blow the Thurrock castle down. Final whistle came just after a Thurrock short corner which was repulsed by our stoic defence. To have conceded a second would have felt unjust. For us to be so competitive against a strong, unbeaten side bodes well for the rest of the season and hopefully that bit of elusive luck....On to next week….

Thanks to Simon and Dottie for umpiring – without our umpires there is no game and our club is blessed to have a rota of individuals willing to give up their time to make matches go ahead.