4pm home start and surprise expressed by the guys that despite facing another club’s first 11, we were on pitch two. Some other game on pitch one apparently. Still our loyal band of supporters trooped over to pitch 2 clutching their coffees to warm their hands whilst the team practiced our short corner routine’s under Virtue and Seb’s guidance. Sadly, the rain put paid to our preparations. The white board, recommended by your correspondent’s illustrious predecessor David Fowler, as essential for team organisation failed in the rain….. Still the weather gods smiled and after negotiation and sanity checking with Ari (good spot that we need 11 not 10 on the pitch!!) and we were good to go.

We started fast out of the blocks pressing Basildon back. Francis pressured them into a mistake and slipped the ball to Frank. His mazy run took him deep into the D, to the by line and he deftly nipped the ball past the keeper with a powerful shot that just about reached the back board. 1-0 with just one minute on the clock. We did not let the pressure drop and after 16 mins, Seb burst into the box and slammed a reverse home to make it 2-0. Surely we could now relax? Maybe we did too much for Basildon showed menace and with seconds on the clock to the end of the first, they pounded forward into the D and looked certain to score until Frank pounced again on the line, this time defending to keep our lead at 2-0.

Half-time reflections noted that despite our pressure, we’d not had a single short corner. We agreed that we needed “outcomes.” And that’s what we got. Straight back in the attack, Seb’s ball into Edward saw him turn, realise a shot wasn’t on and roll the ball onto a foot for our first short. Corner came into Seb who slipped to Edward who’s shot was just kept out by the keeper. But now our confidence was up and we surged forward, Freddie unlucky not to score with a sharp turn and shot. Another short. This time, we showed practice makes perfect. Freddie injected to Seb who slipped it back as he ran in and bundled the ball over the line for a well deserved first senior goal! A routine practiced, a routine perfected! Virtue will be updating his short corner analysis!

Pressure was mostly all ours however Basildon showed capacity to break at pace. But Brett was as quick as their forward and did just enough to prevent a clean shot and Aman showing great tenacity to get back was able to then show composure to tidy the ball up and avert danger. More pressure and another short. This time Seb took responsibility and rifled the ball home for 4-0 with a controlled flick. 3 shorts. 2 goals. Can’t say fairer than that. Good job the manager’s top of the game statistical insight noted the lack of first half shorts at half-time….
All Loughts from then on. Some great midfield play from Ari, Rhys and Sohan pouncing on every loose ball and turning it back forward. Angus pushing forward on the right wing made it into the box and centimetres away from registering his first senior goal as the ball rebounded off the post. Francis too unlucky to score with the Basildon keeper making a series of saves. Sankar, delighted at the final whistle. His first clean sheet and entry on the golden glove leaderboard.

Still it was cold and wet but everyone came off buzzing as Nigel and Russ (thanks for umpiring) blew on the dot of 35 mins. A great team win with contributions from everyone. Back for tea and to watch the conclusion of the other game on Pitch 1.