Having held the league leaders Braintree to a draw last week, hopes were running high for the game at second placed Crostyx. We were expecting a tough game as the only side they had lost to before this week was Braintree!

A late flurry of changes meant that we had a couple of subs to work with this week which was great - particularly in the second half. Early exchanges were tight and it was clear that neither side was going to run away with the game. We were able to deal with their two attacking strategies well - the skilful youngster who tried to dribble though everyone kept running into a gold wall and the crash ball from back to front was easily picked off by our defenders (if the midfield let them get that far). The bouncy pitch at Ashton Park is always a tricky one to get used to but the youngsters overcame some early nerves to really settle into the game.

Chances in the D for both teams were few and far between. There were only 4 short corners all game - all of which went to Crostyx and all were dealt with really well. The deadlock was broken about twenty minutes in when Elvo fired the ball into the D for Mike to apply a deft touch to deflect the ball into the goal.. Everything happened so quickly, everyone was looking around wondering how it had happened (everyone apart from Mike though!).

The end of the second half saw Crostyx scoring an equaliser in very similar fashion to our goal - a deflection that took everyone by surprise. The half time team talk centred around how little threat they were causing us and how we needed to stay focussed and try to use more width. It was clear that this was going to be a game that would be settled by either a lapse in concentration or a moment of brilliance - a game of fine margins.

As has been our plan, we started the second half strongly and tried to apply some pressure to their players. By this time our back three were all called Mark (Hopkins, Elvidge and Butt) and despite their best efforts nothing was getting past giving a relieved Neal on his return with very little to do.

With the experienced umpire deciding Mike was older than Paul (much to Paul's delight) was a youngster was taking his first steps in umpiring - he made some interesting decisions in the later parts of the game, thankfully none of which cost us, but fair play to him for putting himself forward.

As the game headed towards it's climax there was a general feel that the next goal could be decisive. As legs tired, gaps began to open up on the break and we tried our best to exploit them. The winning goal was clinical. An early ball out from the back freed Nick down the right wing. Driving at pace, Nick was able to get the cross in from the baseline where it was met by the captain who finished the move off with a satisfying crack of ball on back board.

Despite their best efforts to find an equaliser, the old boys defended resolutely, chasing down everything and leaving it all out on the pitch. A really well deserved win that showed we should fear no one in our league.

Man of the match went to Dan Copley for his tireless work in midfield with Arran the runner up for his excellent reading of the game and some timely interceptions.

Tea report - best teas we have had but had to wait nearly as long as we did at Havering!