Mens 1 vs Saffron Walden 2

So it turns out if you charge out to defend a short corner like a steam train and collide into a whimpering forward who's attempting to block you, it's not necessarily the best idea to take the hit of the oppo's stick with your rib cage. I reckon I've at best popped a rib, maybe fractured a few. On the well-established 1-10 scale of discomfort that increases from giving birth at 1 to manflu at 10, I'm probably residing at around a six right now.

This week Coach Dom was getting his nails done and Captain Dan was somewhere near the outer-hebrides. This gave an opportunity for Freddie to come back into the ranks to provide some much needed youth, health and fitness. With Elvis riddled with manflu, Durbs' ankle and hip causing gip, we really didn't need for anymore injuries at the back. I lasted about 7 minutes (insert "that's a record for you Rees" jokes here) before my calf gave out and ended up 'watching' the rest of the game from the side of the pitch. The calf would be about a 3 on the birth-manflu scale, add that to the rib and I'm nearly at a full manflu state of suffering.

Turns out there's all forms of hilarity that occur on the side of the pitch. I giggled when Singer came on, only to be called off again about five minutes later. Less funny was Skills taking a knock to his appendage, off he popped to A&E with a hurty thumb, thankfully he's alright.

It was pretty windy - the gale force guts upended the tennis clubs gazebo. We also had some lovely support with Clive running the bench, plus Kev, Kelsey and Coley too.

What happened on the pitch?

They scored, the cheeky chaps.

Harps 0 - 1 SW2

We came back into it thanks to Charlie "goal machine" Moxham - he's got to be our top scorer so far this season right? It can't be George or Henry.

Harps 1 - 1 SW2

George made a great save with his foot, unfortunately it was one of Rob Walker's shots. We need a keeper next week, maybe this was an audition?

Mox fired a reverse stick tomahawk despairingly close to the far post.

There was a bit of a hoo-ha around the next goal. Saffron Walden limped the ball into the D, scuffed it towards the goal as 11 Harpenden players watch it trundle into the bottom corner, before complaining to the Umps that the clearly inside the D scuff was outside the D. The Umps discussed, came to the correct conclusion, and we are again a goal back.

Harps 1 - 2 SW2

That's how it finished. In the words of Todd Baines "we were average, they were slightly better".

If I didn't mention you in this report, be more memorable on the pitch!

Hugs, Reesy