It's only a game...

 So here we are. NST vs Balsham Colts. Last game of the season and game of the season. If we win or draw we're top of the league. Lose and  Balsham, who beat us 6-4 at their ground, go top. Who dreamed up this fixture list?

But we are full of confidence. The sun is shining, it’s warm with a light breeze. Perfect footballing weather. They can’t even hit the target in shooting practice. This is going to be our day. The ref blows. Six seconds later the ball is nestling in the back of our goal. I don’t think we even touched it. Oh well, that’ll make the lads take it seriously. Five minutes later we’re 4-0 down. Things are not going to plan…..

Duncan makes a tactical switch. Ed up into midfield. Mark drops back to sweeper. It’s a masterstroke. Suddenly, the team is full of energy, the goal flood is ended, our heads are up and we are resurgent. This is why Fergie, Rafa and Arsene get the big bucks. Good call Duncan.

We get one back. A great strike from distance by Ollie. Yes! We can do this! Everyone is thinking Liverpool vs Milan in Istanbul. Bring it on. But Balsham come back, there is goal mouth scramble and somehow they manage to squeeze the ball over the line. Never mind, we’re dominant now and there’s loads of time to go.

The halves start to blur into one frantic mush. We’re on top. We hit the bar. We hit the post. We’re one on one with the goalie and he makes a cracking save. He’s got the voodoo on us. Where's the lucky chair when you need it? Why won’t the ball go in?

Eventually the pressure starts to tell. Jake hits a superb long distance drive into the top of the net. Then with some skilful footwork on the right and a neat turn he drives the ball across a crowded goal mouth. Ollie, lurking on the back post, stretches out a leg at full length. The ball dribbles towards the goalie, who, for once, fumbles it and we’ve got another one back.

As the game continues, lungs bursting, hearts pounding the lads give their all for the team and drive Balsham back. But the ball runs loose and in a slick counter attacking move Balsham open up our defence and widen the gap again. You can almost hear Hansen opining on Match of the Day. “You’ve got to score when you’re on top. Balsham soaked up the pressure and hit NST with a superb counter punch.”

Ollie gets another goal. But in the end it’s just too much. Our opposition are a good team. They pass well and are skilful. We gave them too much of a head start. When they get goal number seven we know in our hearts it’s not going to be our day. And when the ref blows the long final whistle Balsham celebrate while we reflect ruefully on what might have been….

So as we dig into the Hagen Das (Belgium Chocolate flavour) we say thank you to Duncan and Paul for getting us there in the first place. And thank you to the lads who have given us so much pleasure and pride this season.