With time running out in the half-term, the 15B’s played a strong Hampton team looking to win this league. Quite a few of the team had already spent the day representing the school in the London qualifiers for hockey before we eventually set out (everyone please remember their auto-injectors!).

Once there, the team got straight into the match and Guillaume di Rijk got onto a through ball from Ralph Lawson, running hard before delivering a great cross which was met by Dilanesh Sanyasi, who just couldn’t quite get the connection he (or we!) wanted. It was a ding-dong, end to end battle and our defence, especially Xoel Barcia-Akande and James Redman were busy. Then one of their player skipped past 3 attempted tackles and fired the ball past Finn Mitchell who had no chance.

A few minutes later and not for the first time this season, we failed to clear a corner. 2-0 at half-time.

Out usual substitutions sought to inject some energy, none more so than Dubem Okonkwo, who must be a nightmare for any defender. He combined well with Marcus Chan to go close and then from Dilanesh’s excellent corner he scored. 2-1 and we are very much in the game.

Izehi Obasuyi was making some excellent runs on the right and James was a force in midfield, but other player lacked positional discipline, so we didn’t always have an outlet/target up front. This just invites pressure back on and with 15 minutes or so left in the game, we conceded when a shot from distance cannoned off the underside of the cross-bar.

There was time for Hampton to add gloss to the score with time running out, adding a fourth.

So they win the league and we are left to rue what might have been.

We still have games after the break and I hope that this group stays together, keeps working hard and enjoys the rest of the season.