After last week what ever the elements threw at us had to be an improvement. I think today we experienced what can only be described as perfect conditions. A slight breeze, dry conditions and lovely soft ground, wouldn’t it be nice if it could stay like this over the coming months.

We started today a little shaky. Before we had even turned up today we had lost four players, three have come down with the flu bug that seems to be bothering so many of us and one turned his ankle and could be out for a week or two. We wish them all the best and a speedy recovery, we hope to see you all soon.

Today is always a sombre day for me, as a serving soldier, remembrance Sunday is one of the extremely special days in my calendar and is the only day that I attempt to attend a church service, however once again I swapped my remembrance Sunday service for Sunday morning football. The pitch becomes my church and memorial service all built into one and the efforts today with the two minutes of silence and complete respect for our fallen will stay with me for many years, it was a proud moment and I thank you all. The day just couldn’t get any better…….or could it?

The game started with us on the back foot, I think it took a couple of minutes for us to settle and calm down, luckily during that time St Ives didn’t really settle either. Once we had settled the magic started to appear, from the 7^th minute of the game we had repeated chances on goal, the score line could easily have been 4 – 0 after ten minutes with Will and Connie both being stopped by the keeper with ever effort. Once again the St Ives keeper played a blinder and once again he prevented us from putting a cricket score passed them, my hat goes off to him.

Eventually with the pressure we were putting on goal we had to go one up and sure enough in the 19^th minute Will slipped one home. It was almost a short-lived celebration as St Ives immediately smashed one off the woodwork as they attempted return the favour and go level. Thankfully it wasn’t to be. It was a cracking shot and a great effort.

We continued to pressure and in the 27^th minute with a brilliant assist from Joe Ross-Nelson, Nathan smashed our second home. He has been searching for his first goal and was rewarded with a real cracker. 2 – 0.

St Ives weren’t done trying, they battled hard and continued to try and turn things around but to no a vale, they did however assist Conroy with our third goal. In the 31^st minute Connie put a ball across goal towards Will, the weight and direction was perfect and I’m sure Will would have cracked another one into the net but unfortunately St Ives intercepted the pass only to direct the ball into the back of the net. The goal goes down as Connie’s as he had done the hard work and he reassures me that it was a deflected shot…whatever!!!!……it was still 3 – 0 and the St Ives heads were starting to drop.

After two quick subs at half time we continued with the pressure, time after time our attack was stopped, St Ives defended well and when they didn’t their keeper was their to clean up. It took a further 17 minutes for us to hit the target again. Tom Osbourne smashing a volley took us to 4 – 0 in the 57^th minute. Great goal, bad timing……you see, I was just in the middle of apologising to their manager about our third goal and how cruel it had been and had barely started to say “that if they put one in it would restore their spirit and we would have a real game on our hands” when Ozzie smashed one and finish them off. Cracking goal.

I thought a forth goal would have finish them off but I was wrong they continued to dig in and never gave up. Fortunately nothing came from their efforts and the game finished 4 – 0.

I always look for a moral in every story and today it is 'know you green cross code, always check left and right before doing anything'. Unfortunately now I have explained the moral I will have to explain the story. With about 10 minutes to go as we attacked you may recall that one of St Ives players crawled off the pitch in a bit of pain, luckily no long term damage, he had suffered a mild sprain. Nick and I both assisted St Ives and ensured in a true sporting manner that we provided the assistance that any injured player should receive. As the player recovered I escorted him the length of the pitch to where his kit was leaving both Nick and the St Ives manager to continue watching the game. Nick hadn’t realised that I had gone and started a conversation were he commented to me that St Ives weren’t up to much, a bit of a weak opponent, nothing really to worry us today. The problem was that it wasn’t me he was speaking to it was the St Ives manager. Great one Nick not only did we beat them 4 – 0 today but you sent the St Ives manager home with salt in his wounds. Hopefully he will see it as an honest mistake.

As for our performance today: 13 players walked on to that pitch today ready to play quality football and thirteen players marched off, proud and happy in their own performances. A great team effort, well done lads. A few shout outs for the lads……Louis, Sam and Joe absolute quality, closed down players, constantly won the ball and delivered some outstanding passes…… Joe and Josh, brilliant support of one and another, a partnership that grows week in week out, brilliant game…….Jason, Nathan across the middle, absolutely outstanding, I asked you win every ball, I asked you to terrorise anything that moved and that’s exactly what you both did. The best game you have both played this season……Ozzie, James and Eamon on the wings, out run them, out tackles them and out flanked them, quality……Will and Connie, 4 goals in the last two games, 2 goals today and should have been many many more, absolute class…..and finally Tom in goal, solid but bored, it’s a funny position to be in, when the team plays well you get bored and when they play badly you get busy. Clean sheets from the last two games, long may it continue, Well done.

With so many great performances it would be so easy to sit on the fence and not name a man of the match but for me one player in particular stood out today for his shear effort and determination, not only today but over the last three games. Week after week he is developing in to a little cracker. Today he was rewarded for his efforts with his first goal and I don’t think it will be his last. Today’s man of the match goes to Nathan Biggs. Well done you had a cracker.

9 played……5 league wins……2 Cup wins……2 Lost……15 points........2nd in the league and Quarter finals of the cup………bring it on

U16s LIVING THE DREAM..........