A good test for the Reds with their first game of the season.

We have always had close games with Hedge End but have ended losing 4-1 each time and last night was no exception. Their lines man suggested the score didnt really reflect the closeness of the game - which was good to hear.

The boys battled really hard in a close first half and were only 1 down after 35 minutes.

The grass was long and the pitch bumpy and it took time to get used to these conditions coming off the back of regular sessions over the summer on the astro turf. These sessions have really helped with the fitness and while the boys were tired by the end they kept going throughout.

Trying to accommodate 16 boys and giving everybody at least half a game meant the number of subs and the concentration towards the end of the game dropped a little and we conceded 3 more goals before Silas was in the right place to get our goal. He also had another shot go in but this was ruled out for offside.

Overall the match allowed everybody to get back into 11-a-side and it was great to see everybody so keen to get on the pitch and start playing.