Cheam M1s 6 - 2 Surrey Spartans M1s

So this was the game when it finally...FINALLY clicked. The M1s have been very close to a complete performance all season, with a few unlucky results flowing from short periods in games where we lost concentration and got punished. This was the game when it all came good, and at a good time for this team.

A result had perhaps seemed unlikely at the start of the day...missing a number of players, including one of our most potent forwards (Seb Jennings), one of our quickest defenders (Chris Harvey) and one of our most reliable yellow card collectors (William Gunn). With team sicknote Koen Overeynder also being in the squad despite suffering from a "gammy" calf, the squad was looking a little thin (metaphorically)... A cheeky call-up for Harry Reynolds (congratulations!) meant his debut for the M1s - nice! In case you hadn't picked it up from Facebook, our Harry was a little nervous. So a smallish playing squad of 12 made the trip to Surrey Spartans.

Rather than a full-blown match report today, here's just a few highlights...

(1) Harry Reynolds - the lad makes his debut, announces on Facebook he is nervous. Forgets to bring his shorts and shinpads. Comes on off the bench and picks up a 10 minute yellow card within a couple of minutes :D A great performance when he was finally let back onto the field, but still picked up DOTD for this effort. Muchos ladpoints and thank you for bringing a flavour of the Sohail Ahmed school of tackling to the M1s! Jokes aside, a great debut, and we look forward to having you in the team as the season goes forward.

(2) William Lindsay, Simon Higgins, Omar Shibli, Johann Perera, Will Gault - the short corner team - bravo! 6 shorties won in the game, 4 scored. Finally found our clinical edge, this was the difference between winning and drawing games. Just ludicrous, well done! William Lindsay's awesome display from the top of the D and his skilled play during the game saw him pick up a deserved MOTM - huzzah!

(3) Alex Beattie - you don't have to be able to hit a ball to be a quality finisher. At least, not if you are St Tropez. Nonchalant finish and celebration of the season. Nuff said ;)

(4) Andrew Oldale and the defence - 6-2 was the score - on another day it could have been 10-10. Awesome defending against somne very skilful forwards meant this was a truly team effort.

(5) Surrey Spartans - fair play, they didn't hjave a bad game at all. Skilful and quick, and hit the post / crossbar about 5 times. Both sides played well, the difference is one team took their chances and the other didn't. Having ben on the opposite side of the coin enough times this season, we know that feeling. Well played and good luck going forward.

(6) Surrey Spartans teas - as good as advertised. Top work!

(7) David Hand - rished home to watch Chelsea play Stoke. Needn't have bothered. Ha!

Great performance and a benchmark has been set!

On an unrelated note, see below the current Germany captain and one of the top players in the world. Some unsolicited comments have been made about a certain member of the M1s' tracksuit bottoms / playing socks arrangements during the pre-match warm ups. So just thought you should all see this. Just saying...