There’s no doubt that Saturday is the best day of the week because it’s Football Day. Every Saturday is “an event” if you are a Blueblood – it doesn’t really matter which team you play for – the thing that really matters is that you enjoy the game and a day out with your team mates, officials and, hopefully, the opposition. Too often in recent years opposition sides depart sharpish, which is understandable if they drive, so building a rapport with other clubs doesn’t happen like it used to before the breathalyser. The Bluebloods, however, always travel by public transport except to Old Owens so we have always been a strong sociable group and yesterday was no exception.

We travelled to Winchmore Hill in a determined mood – although we beat The Hill at home it was a closer game than the score seemed to indicate and they held Polytechnic to a 0 – 0 draw last week. There was no chance of Fozzie underestimating them so we took 14 to the Paulin Ground by a new route – Hayes – Victoria (lovely girl) – Finsbury Park then Finsbury Park mainline to Winchmore Hill. We walked right past the Queens Arms by Winchmore Station which disappointed me – there was no chance that we walk past it on the way home.

I have always liked this area – it’s smart – it’s lively and has top pubs and cafes. It also boasts its own “Millionaires Row” called Broad Street where the rich and famous live.

Freddie Freeman failed an early morning fitness test and had to stay home with his Mum but Connor Byrne was available and he was added to last week’s squad. We had three strikers on the bench in JJ, Connor and Charlie Mac and we needed all three of them.

The pitch at the Paulin Ground has a significant slope from right to left across the pitch when viewing it from the Clubhouse and this slope helped the home side back into a game after they had sent the first 35 minutes on the back foot.

Sam Murray was soon racing down the left wing aided and abetted by Josh Kennedy and Jamie Askew and most of the danger came from Muzza’s speed and anticipation. Their right back was having a hard time against Sam and he broke through for the third time, raced into the penalty area, checked back onto his right foot and slapped the ball into the net.

Somehow, Winchmore’s goal survived our constant pressure and their keeper and central defenders struggled to handle Josh Kennedy’s excellent right wing corners. We missed at least three chances from inside the penalty box mainly due to the number of defenders blocking shots and the agility of their young keeper. Joe Walby, Ollie Clark and Joe Kelly had a firm grip on the midfield but a one goal lead didn’t look enough and we needed another asap.

Winchmore always looked dangerous on the break and, although striker Andy Barrell has less pace than me, he is still a top player with his back to goal. Adam Freeman was adjudged to have fouled him and the resultant free kick was in a perfect position – about 25 yards from goal on the higher part of the slope – I knew that if the ball beat our wall we would be in trouble... and we were.

It was an excellent delivery and although Chis got both hands to the ball he couldn’t keep it out. This came after a spell of pressure from the home side who had just won a series of 4 consecutive corners which we didn’t deal with particularly well and we paid the price.

Winchmore finished the half strongly but had had only one worthwhile shot at goal.
We went in at half time with the score 1 – 1. Some minor panic was evident in our play in the second period. We still dominated possession – we continued to win corners – we still looked as if we would score any minute but over anxiety affected our finishing. We twice hit the post – we missed a couple of open goals from 5 yards and the home keeper was doing a fine job for his side and his kicking was also very good. We did get the ball in the net but the goal was correctly ruled offside.

Both full backs Jay Askew and Jack Doyle were getting forward at every opportunity and often we had too many players constricting our operating space in the final third. Everybody wanted to score a vital second goal.

The Manager then changed the game bringing on two strikers in Connor Byrne and Jamie James for Walby and Kennedy -- both had played well but we needed something different in the last half hour and we got it. With 33 minutes left on the clock we still had time to put the game to bed. We now had some aerial threat and the Winchmore defence was at full stretch – Byrne made a surging run down the left wing holding off two defenders – somehow the Winchmore kept the subsequent shot from James out. Fozzie was getting anxious. -- he finished biting his fingernails and then stated on mine.

Josh Tutt gave way to Charlie McGeary with 20 minutes left so we had three fresh strikers on the park and we were running out of nails.

Byrne was winning all the aerial battles – he was booked for a mid air clash with their central defender who came off second best – this was harsh – he was only booked because the defender was hurt. Joe Kelly was everywhere and I don’t remember seeing anybody in AFA who is better than him in the air or on the deck

It would have been fitting if his Man of the Match performance was rewarded with the winning goal but time was slipping away like Theresa May’s premiership.

Fozzie and I were chasing after the ball when it went out of play like a couple of lunatics – the egg timer had just been turned on when Byrne won possession with another header. He directed it to Charlie Mac who fed JJ – JJ crossed the ball in from the left flank and, in a blur, Joe Kelly launched himself at the cross and headed a magnificent goal. This was dramatic – it took bravery and skill - the young keeper had no chance of saving the thunderbolt.

Josh Tutt came back on in a defensive role replacing Sam Murray and we still had time to make one more chance – Kells got away from his marker but the keeper made a fine save to deny him. On another day Joe would have scored at least three.

It ended 2 – 1 in a game that was played in an excellent spirit by both teams and nobody can deny that the Bluebloods deserved all 3 points. The relief at the final whistle was palpable. This was another game in which the squad all performed to a high standard and it was, perhaps, the best that we have played this year.

As usual Winchmore fielded all of their stalwart, ageing, supporters and we were, as always, made very welcome. Good to see Neil Hurst, one of Winchmore’s best ever midfielders, in the bar after the game along with Chairman Bob Gyles.

And then we fell into The Queens Arms -- the Duke of Edinburgh was not amused so we sent him home while we checked that Mark Williams still had the three points in his pocket. We made sure that they weren’t in his kitbag because he loses that after almost every game and even now I bet it’s in Caminos Cocktail Bar in Kings Cross.

The Queens Arms is a cracking pub – good beer – good food – good service – good heavens it’s half past seven and the £120 kitty has disappeared. We were on the verge of singing The Wickham Player but decided to visit Caminos again to talk utter rubbish for 3 or 4 hours. At midnight most were still standing but some of them were speaking a new found language with plenty of words which were meaningless and will never appear in the Oxford Dictionary.

Thanks to the travelling fans - The Shoe, JP, Brutus, Steve Foster and Mark’s mate who’s name escapes me – mind you plenty of things had escaped me by 9pm on Saturday night. I woke up remembering the joy of being in the Queen’s Arms last night and felt relieved that it was “the Queen” of the right gender.

Fozzie gave MOM to Muzza so this week we have two MOM’s as I gave it to Joe Kelly and, maybe, it should be three because the Manager also had a top game.

So next it’s Nottsborough and then Polytechnic both away from home. The title race is now a two way affair between us and Poly who have a game in hand but trail by 4 points. On Tuesday they play Actonians who still need points to avoid relegation so that’s a huge game.

At Merton, Chris Tookey and his Threes squad secured the Intermediate Division Three title – a really remarkable achievement as this section is for Reserve teams and they have only lost one game all season. Dan Cudmore was on target along with Charlie Smyth and Chris Eadon with a penalty. Congratulations to all the players who helped Chris win his second consecutive title.