A bitter overnight frost left the game in doubt, until the sun came up and cleared it all up just before kick-off. With both sides raring to go, it was going to be a good game. Borough Alliance have taken some beatings this year but have managed to score against the top teams. They were ready for a real battle, and had added some new blood since we last played.

    Both sides literally tore at the ball, and set the tome for the first half-really fast and furious football. In this vein, Harry R tore up the left side and netted the ball after 4 minutes. Borough then came at us hard and fast, but we began to stroke the ball around confidently and had players literally queuing up to score. However, we were entertained by some of the funniest goalmouth scrambles ever seen (where were the You've Been Framed cameras?). Balls hitting the underside of the crossbar, the sides of heads, the back of heads, the inside of the post, kicked from one foot to another-and that was just one attack! And then we did it again, and again. Somehow, the ball just didn't want to cross the line. This left both sides frustrated (although both were also laughing), and it took some time to change tack and drive down the wings. Lucaas was in full flight when he was hauled to the ground and fell awkwardly, taking him out of the game. Alex came on, back up front, as Liam covered right wing. The resulting free kick bounced around the goal (again) until Tom stood his ground and calmly stroked the ball between everyone to make it 2-0. Boro now drove even harder at us, but Josh, in the centre of defence, made sure Sam had little to do. James B kept the right-back clear and Harry C had to watch the left side carefully as the flooded that area time and again. Luke was supporting Josh and we started to drive the ball forward thanks to Marcus literally digging the ball out of their attack and switching it forward to Thomas and Alex. More shots were saved by Boro in the space of 5 minutes than all last week! We began to look a little nervy until Harry R slotted home our third just before half-time after literally running the entire length of the field.

    The second half started with just as much vim and vigour by our rearranged side- Bailey at RB, James B in goal, Sam as CB, Jack as DM, Luke as LB, Josh up to AM, Marcus still as CM, Tom as RW, Harry R still as LW, Alex and Thomas still as strikers. Boro had made key changes-with much larger attackers coming on to combat our changes. Despite all this, Harry R still drove up the left and unselfishly passed a delightful cross to Tom who, still having work to do, stepped around his marker and delivered a confident second goal. This made Boro drive even harder to get the ball by our wings and Jack had his work cut out in both intercepting the ball and driving back up front to get it to Marcus and Thomas. The pace of the game could not continue and with a few tired legs out there, Boro began winning corners and attacking throw-ins. Bailey kept his side clean, as did Luke, so they began to drive through our midfield with high balls. It was intercepting one of these that allowed Marcus to drive forward to take a deserved goal on 20 minutes of the second half. Alex then did exactly the same two minutes later and the points were finally sealed. Liam came back on for a tired Thomas, but Boro simply pulled all their players back behind the ball for the remainder of the game. Harry C was just coming on for Harry R when the whistle finally went.

    It may look like we made heavy weather of it at times, but the energy and passing today was superb. We'll talk about the finishing in training! However, the Boro lads came off smiling and were very courteous, not easy when you've lost all season. They have better things to come, and had a fair bit to do with us not scoring more. Every Gold player, without exception, did their job today. Good communication, and repeating exactly what we've been doing on the training pitch, shows how far we've come.

    

Man of the Match-more nominees than usual this week, but Tom Mead gets it again simply for the extra bite he showed today, his work rate, and his goals. Keep it up!

 

My thanks, as usual, to all of our supporters and friends, Raunds Manor, our sponsors Sexton's, Niall Commins and his Boro Alliance team, Arden for reffing, James for running the line, our "net team", our special pitch sweeping team and Sarabeth for taking the register.