A cross borough visit for a high noon showdown for the M6s vs Waltham Forest 3 saw Loughts edge both halves 2-1 to come up 4-2 victors.

Old Loughts started brightly with some good moves but failed to turn that early possession into a deserved goal. This allowed WF, featuring ex-Loughts Lopper Nigel Lovell (showing he’d lost none of his pace or skill….) back into the game. A short corner conceded, a ricochet and the ball was in the back of the net past a despairing Sankar. But wait, drama, VAR intervening through the other umpire who disallowed the goal for the ball striking a Waltham Forest player’s body on the way through. Phew. A fast break down the left through Leo, a bit of back and forth with the ball eventually bobbling to Edward who swept it home for 1-0. However, the lead did not last with WF roaring back for another short corner and this time no mistake and all square. However, Loughts were undaunted and continued to press with Alex showing great endeavour down the right. He put the ball into Edward who squared for Rehan to tap in. 2-1 and time for a half-time breather!

Second half started as we ended the first with us on the front foot and WF under the cosh a Sohan and Esa dominated midfield. A short corner won. Edward’s shot deflected off a defenders stick to Esa who flicked powerfully home for 3-1 and father and son on the score sheet! Pressure was all ours now. Ball deflected into the box high and Rehan, clearly keen to keep the Sheikh household bragging rights, somehow swept the high ball just past the back post. Some great 1-2 interplay on the left wing from Angus and Leo led to another short corner. However, perhaps overconfident and ignoring your correspondent’s advice that perhaps we didn’t need 6 on the edge of the D for a short, the ball broke quickly upfield and with WF looking certain to score, debutant Angus appeared, lunging and clearing the ball off the line! But WF were not to be denied for long and shortly after pulled it back to 3-2. Nervy times. Backs to the wall now, some heroic blocking and clearing from Ari and Virtue kept WF at bay before Virtue, with the assist of the match on our 25, found Leo on the left touchline. Leo dribbled forward quickly, beating one and then two before sliding across the top of the D to slam home for 4-2. Nerves abated. A top team performance with great contributions throughout.