After over a month out with numerous injuries, I made the decision to return to the field but as an out field player due to the continuing thumb issues that have never gone away since Jonny smashed it to pieces last season.

I was overjoyed to find myself as captain.

The early picks were easy choices, both Richie and Ross electing to play in goal prior to the pick and for me a picked balance of 3 DF 2 MF and 2 Fw with me as the floating extra in every place on the pitch, where the ball wasn’t. As Jay pointed out, 'I was running as if I had an anchor tied to my back'

Both teams fielded strong players and the game was balanced throughout. Jay managed his return from injury, pirouetting festively to Nut Cracker on the side lines but did do enough to harass Jonny into touch and Ross into a panic, laying on Paul S for the only goal in the game. The whites, aided by the growling Paul H on the left and John on the right demonstration a bout verbal self flagellation put up fierce resistance against the counter attacking Yellows, who also had the determination of consistent Neil to try and overcome.

The Yellows pressed and used the set piece tactic of whack or hurl the ball into the box for Toms usually reliable head, but who was unable to match the flailing fists of Richie or the 'unseen' not quite accidental hand of Paul H.

The game in fairness was very even, Andy E and Paul S working tirelessly in MF, with neither team dominating despite the efforts of Ross to game a player advantage when attempting to maim the busy Gary P with an expertly executed rugby tackle, the like of which Englands now sacked manager Eddie Jones needed from his team against S.Africa during the most recent international drubbing.

A slender lead to take into the second leg, Richie with a clean sheet and Jay P demonstrating how to fall when shot by a sniper (have a look at Defoe on the cover of the movie Platoon) but MOM goes to Paul S for an energetic performance and the goal that sealed the result.