On a miserable day in late November, the usually mighty 13B’s turned in an uncharacteristically weak performance losing away to Oxted school on a muddy, wet field at the foot of the North Downs.

0-0 at half time, we had been kept in the game by keeper Ajibola Ajagbule who pulled off a string of excellent saves, but a lack of fight in the middle of the park, not competing for those 50/50 balls and getting out-muscled was really hurting our desire to play good football. Tyler Moreland, Rory Batten and Alfie Yeoman tried to combine down the right, but couldn’t quite get the combinations right. With their midfield and right winger putting Dan Howe under pressure at left back, we didn’t react well enough as a team to provide him with protection.

A pretty tough team talk at half time and we went out for the second half determined to get a result.

Instead from their first attack, the left winger cut inside and curled a shot past Ajibola who was unsighted.

Sadly our heads went down and they scored 2 more in quick succession as we conceded possession and space.

With the game now probably out of reach, the team finally started winning those collisions and Henry Hayden De Carbonnières in the vanguard, we were desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Luca Giannini and Hayden Wood both went close, Henry hit one just over the bar.

Then they broke and scored from a corner which we needlessly conceded. Insult was added with the 5th when we relapsed into not competing and their striker couldn’t believe his luck as we gave him the ball 3m away from an unmarked goal.

Better days to come! Hopefully we start against Ibstock in 2 weeks.