This was it, the big one, the chance to secure promotion. It had been so slow coming it felt like it had been eight days a week since the previous game, and it was a hard day's night on Friday. But finally it arrived, and we were as pumped as a San Antonio foam party!

We had to come together outside of the pitch to wait for the kids football to finish, Corny arriving with a call of "I am the Walrus", just in case we weren't totally aware of his presence. The pitch looking as good as strawberry fields, forever, we warmed up on the long and winding road around the school until we could finally get onto the field of dreams.

I should have know better than to think we would start well, given the sluggish beginning to our previous couple of matches. And this week was no different. Pre-match Hutch called for us to keep possession for the first 5 minutes and work our way into the game... and then promptly was the first player to lose the ball! Not so much a case of possession, more hello, goodbye!

Fortunately it didn't cost us and we did gradually start to impose ourselves on Merton. The first goal was a bit of a scrappy affair, but the next two showed the inner light in our play. Firstly Hutch received a short corner push-out, said from me to you to DP, laid the ball off and DP buried it in the back of the net.

Then Hamjam, with a twist and shout to leave it, took a half cleared ball on the edge of the D and drilled home.

At half time we were deprived of Cleashy's usual words of wisdom (which normally run along the lines of ob la di, ob la da, please, please me, blah, blah...) as he was trying to convince Lisa to take over from him as umpire. He probably led with help! I'm a loser, and she took pity on him.

The second half wasn't exactly a procession, although neither was it a helter skelter of play. Our composure and closing down in defence and midfield enabled our forwards, free as a bird, to create several chances. Even Corny with a turning circle similar to that of a yellow submarine was able to get plenty of space and bring others into play.

Three more goals came before we got our ticket to ride to the clubhouse. The final score was 6 - 0, with two goals for Bash and one each for DP, Hamjam, Corny and Steve.

Promotion guaranteed! I feel fine about that, but let's get back to business next week and take the title!

Thanks to Lisa (ain't she sweet for helping out Cleashy!) and the support on the sidelines.

POM went to DP for a sterling display in the middle of the park, DOD was Hutch for not heeding his own advice.

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Mar 2016

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Division 4

Team overview