MAGNIFICENT MAX'S MAGICAL COMEBACK

Missing the two regular centre midfielders presented the team with a challenge (or fresh start?), but we were also able to welcome back Max vom Kolke after an eventful few months. Max was back with the bionic shoulder, and it showed the way with two goals. The first goal of the game went to Max, lifting one up high after we moved the ball around the circle a bit.

Both teams were fairly evenly matched throughout the first half and we weren't making silly choices and errors like last week. The 5s also had the legs on the opposition who had no bench. BOE went into half time at 1-0 up, just like the encounter against Gillingham earlier in the year.

After half time, it took about ten minutes for Gillingham to score, taking it 1-1 and it could have ended either team's way. But then we piled on another 3. Ollie, Dan and Charlie scored. Max also took another, which was an impressive top left corner flick from a penalty stroke. Quite remarkable for someone who hasn't played for several months and just got one of those new shoulders. Charlie's goal was from a ball that swam around the circle, took a shot and it came off the keeper, but the star converted the save to the top left of the goal.

All in all, both teams were quite similar, perhaps with BOE a bit stronger. But what won it for us was grit and determination in the circle. We were more successful at converting a mess in the D into a goal. There were still things to improve... actually playing positions and passing more firmly. Well done to Tom Conway, for another sterling effort in goal, man-of-the-match for a second week in a row!

Many thanks to Martin Harris for umpiring. Gillingham showed up with ten players and an umpire, so out of pity we provided a second umpire... me hobbling in a corner of the ground. 5s can be difficult to umpire because of the rugby and lumberjack tackles (of course mostly not from us) and multiple simultaneous fouls from both sides. A superb performance from both umpires. And thanks to Joni Coleman for returning the favour and umpiring 3s.