Always a pleasure to play for the glorious 5’s. Feels like a promotion for good behaviour. Although to be fair it didn’t feel quite like that pulling into the carpark at Chelmer Park under grey skies and a constant drizzle and then seeing various athletic looking players decked out in green carrying hockey sticks. I stifled a nervous laugh, there’s two pitches they’ll be on the other one I thought. Eh no when we were directed towards pitch 2 only to see these said same players warming up on the other side, I had a little thought in my head that this could be a long morning. Now I associate the 5’s with many things, the majority of those ‘things’ are indeed very positive ‘things,’ but one ‘thing’ I don’t associate the 5’s with is athleticism and fitness.

But at least we had a sub that would allow a bit of rest and rotation during the game. Matt Smith having turned up and purchased a set of shin pads especially for the occasion. I don’t consider myself to be a particular expert on shinpads (or anything really) but these did look to be of rather dubious quality. Even in the rain I suspect rolled up newspaper to be of more use. More on that fabled rest and rotation later.

I’m not sure how many times Ian Anderson has been promoted up into the 5’s but he got his call up as well. A debut in goal. Exciting stuff for us all. Now I wasn’t present at the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the release of Nelson Mandela but this had a similar history changing feel. A moment that none of us on the pitch will ever forget. In keeping with the developing theme of me commenting on other players equipment I have to say that the goal keeping kit had a remarkable slimming affect on Ian.

Jelly got us all into our starting positions gave us our instructions and off we went. Chelmsford started with the pushback and for the first few minutes we were chasing shadows. The joy of playing 5’s was beginning to lose its sheen. However, my glass half empty nonsense was soon dispatched as we got a foothold in the game. Once we got hold of the ball, we looked good. Defensively we held up and started to offer some attacking challenge to the Chelmsford team. The first real chance fell to us. Chelmsford overcommitting, I managed to nick the ball in centre midfield, and we had them caught on the counter as I released Raj through on goal. The scrambling Chelmsford defence did well to push him out wider than he would have liked but still a clever reverse hit shot just missing the target.

The game had a back and forth feel for the rest of the first half. Chelmsford probably had more of the ball, but I felt that the better chances came Brentwood’s way. Stephen Brown, Jack Payton and Raj always showing for the ball and with decent ball pace happy to take it whilst being marked. Harry Payton always available out wide. It was however Chelmsford that took the lead. Goal was bit of a scramble, Nick Higgs and I got into a bit of a muddle, Chelmsford nicked a ball that really didn’t have the required pace and countered on us. Ian Anderson made a stop was scrambling to get the ball away, there was perhaps a case to be made for his stick being played not the ball and annoyingly the ball found its way into our goal. Still, we didn’t let it affect us and the back and forth continued. We finally got the break. I found Raj central and just outside the D. Raj played a strike towards goal and Stephen Brown marked the game with another goal and the first of his latest comeback. God knows how many goals Stephen has piled up for the club over the decades of service, but I doubt there was one that had less stick on it. I wasn’t very far away, and I though he didn’t nick it. But Stephen is a man of integrity and he confirmed on the pitch (and in the bar later) that he did indeed get the faintest of touches. There is a lesson there about experience trumping youth. You can have all the fitness in the world but it’s nothing without game day nous.

The half time team talk took care of itself. Good battle keep going lads.

The second half followed a similar pattern. However, I felt that as the match went on Chelmsford were getting more in the ascendancy. Our defence with Nick, TC and Fraser were excellent. Great reading of the game I refer you dear reader to the comment above – gameday nous. Ian Anderson looking ever inch a goal-keeper. Quick off his line when needed and loving the fact he is now allowed to actually kick the ball. So happy in fact he decided at one point to punt one right into Nick Higgs. Perhaps may need to work on the direction of said kicks.

Euan Wilson was tigerish in midfield. Breaking up and setting up attacks. He played a couple of delicious balls into the opposition D, with Stephen Brown being his primary target looking for that little nick. Raj had a couple opportunities, nothing clear cut but had the Chelmsford defence scrambling.

A special mention for Harry Payton. Excellent throughout and considering he only played his first match in this years’ summer league, and we probably aren’t yet at double figures for appearances he was excellent throughout on our left side. His pace put Chelmsford on notice and was diligent in his defensive work. Had a gilt-edged opportunity and I know afterwards he was very disappointed to have missed but he should focus on the positives, and I’ve played with a number of far more experienced players who wouldn’t have even been in the position to score.

Whilst Chelmsford might have been getting the better of us the games ended on a short corner for us. Everyone up. TC had a well-placed strike to right post, it was excellently defended by their post man, so many times that ends up on a foot and a flick but not on this occasion. Draw. It could have been 5-5 but 1-1 it was. Probably a fair result. Excellent match, played in a great spirit.

So, what of the fabled rest and rotation? It was an interesting and different use of the 12 man squad Matt Smith stayed resolutely at the side. I guess being part of the squad and not making any error puts him in with a shout for man of the match. I last saw him in the bar at Brentwood, still proudly wearing the shinpads in a luminous dick of the day jacket.

Team: Ian Anderson, Fraser, TC, Nick Higgs, Euan Wilson, Gary MacDonnell, Jack Payton, Harry Payton, Jelly ©, Stephen Brown, Raj, Matt Smith.