One of those really. You get them every so often, you just got to suck it up, take what positives you can from it. We’ll come to those, you’ll look at the scoreline and think there were none, but you would be wrong. However, for those people who ask you how did you get on in your match on Saturday? Those who don’t have time or the interest to hang around whilst you go into detail, you’ll hopefully get away with a non-descript “we lost.” Anything to avoid saying the word ‘nine’ out loud.

So does the scoreline flatter Chelmsford? Nope. They were better than us pure and simple. More experienced, stronger quicker and given they are battling with two other sides for promotion with we what we assume will be a two from three scenario to go up, they probably wanted it more. Certainly, they won’t be out of place in the division above if this team remains together.

The match started and we knew we were up against it. They squeezed and pressed us straight away. We held out for about ten but when the opener came Scott had already been worked a few times and speed of their operations was above what we could comfortably cope with. That said the opening goal (and to be clear the only one of the nine I really have any clear memory of) was disappointing. A free hit close to our D, it wasn’t taken particularly quickly, which means we had time to get into shape and pick up all runners etc. But the ball was rolled to one of their players who had no defending player near them, was allowed free entry into our D, it was a great finish with a reverse hit into the corner, Scott had no chance. Really on reflection was a metaphor for the match. Our moments of poor play were absolutely leaped on with their own moments of relative quality.

What else can I say about a first half we lost 6-0? Well, we had a couple of moments, we had a short corner, but it was backs to the wall stuff. They poured it on and scored at regular intervals throughout the half.

I’ve been involved in a few very heavy defeats in my hockey career. Funnily enough Chelmsford, alongside Old Loughts are the away trips that pop up most in the heavy defeat timeline. They are not nice, but this was a touch different. Maybe it was the spring like weather, perhaps the early pushback, it would have been worse to experience this in the pouring rain having waited all day for it. But no there was a different shape to this one. That was a genuine growing into the game and learning on the job. After half time we did better. Ok the bar was low, but we raised it. Considering we had a couple of players in only their first or second adult games there was a lot of positives. Let’s go through them.

The team stayed together and played as a team. No riffing, no going off and doing your own thing, play the position you’ve been given. We kept our structure throughout. Work to the end. Scott Parsons in goal. The scoreline does not reflect on him, it wasn’t nine shots, nine goals. Far from it. Some excellent saves in there. Charlie Sanders had a hard day at the office no doubt, will improve because of this and kept going. Aiden Pass. Aiden was singled out by the Chelmsford coach post-match showed some lovely touches. William McKay had a role in a variety of positions and caused them issues. Sam Severn looked to me like he was continuing his excellent movement. Doug had a role for some of the match in central midfield and stuck diligently to his task. Issac Kelly. My first view of Isaac and so impressed. Developed into the game and (spoiler alert) if it went on longer may have got man of the match. Worked so hard in that second period popped up everywhere and showed some excellent skills and really got stuck in. Atipatches very similar. Never hid and showed flashes of quality. Was very impressive on what I understand is only his second outing. Finally, Isaac Minor. He had our ‘moment.’ The moment that at least made it worth-while. Set up by namesake Kelly who broke through midfield played a lovely pass and Minor had significant work to do centre back and keeper and it was a lovely finish and the brightest moment of the day.

So, it looks like relegation is secured but I would be very surprised if we don’t go out next season and give some team the working over that Chelmsford gave us. I hope that come that day, they will be able to take away positives like we walk away with.

Team: Scott Parsons, Charlie Sanders, Simon Parsons, Bruce Lewcock, Chris Minor, Gary MacDonnell, William McKay, Aiden Pass, Atipatches Chingombe, Issac Kelly, Isaac Minor, Sam Severn, Doug Muncey, Phil Heritage, Rob Sanders.

Man of the Match: Tight call this week. Perhaps fitting with the ‘difficult’ nature of the fixture the voting got spread out. Isaac Minor just took to. But Atipatches and Isaac Kelly ran him close.