Desmond...

The first week back after Lockdown#2 and White Roding were destined for their furthest away match to South Woodham Ferrers on the astroturf dressed in more black rubber than Dean dons at one of his lifestyle weekends in North Norfolk.

Anniversary Dinners, Achille and Work Shifts meant that Tony Welden made his debut in goal, Sid making a bow in defence and the Gaffer got kitted up in the hope for a run out up front... in vain.

The game got off to a lively start before a misplaced header let a shot for the hosts to be hit from 12 yards, leaving the new shot stopper to make his first meaningful action by picking out the ball from the net.

It is such collective and individual errors that have reappeared this season that have cost us dear.

Dusting ourselves down we went on the attack, but even with last season’s top scorer up top, we fired more blanks than a vasectomy patient of Marie Stopes.

We were not at our fluid best, and plans were already afoot for halftime changes when Holly’s half shot was turned into a full finish by Lux proving that he can score from inside the box as much as the wing.

The 2nd half displayed a changed formation and even more possession and opportunities. That said another error allowed a second shot on target to breach our back line.

It was almost one-way traffic but no end result, when Babs popped up on the left wing and the Home Team keeper pulled off a blinder of a save, but the rebound fell to Lucy again who poked home again. We need more of such killer instinct in front of goal from the rest of the team. Missed chances could be described as one of South Africa’s leading lights’ literary works - Crying in the Wilderness.

A man that has done much for fairness and equality of all people, it is perhaps only right that we laud the Archbishop, as football continues to champion the rights and respect of all those involved in the game.

I am keeping fingers crossed that this week’s home game in the Essex County Vets Trophy vs Herongate is more Hope than Suffering.