Strong winds, a long drive, minimal parking, and memories of our fruitless encounter here last season, all made for an apprehensive start to the weekend, and - spoiler alert - we didn’t get any fruit this time either, although Simon did clear some dog muck off the pitch.

The Panthers started well, with some lovely passing and moving, lots of pressure, and numerous attempts on the Delaford goal - things were looking quite rosey, and hope was in the air… then the wind blew away all trace of hope, The Colts put a ball over the top, the attacker spun his man, and he was through on goal, wind in his hair, the ball in the net - we were 1-0 down.

The Panthers were undeterred. They once again lay siege to the Delaford goal, and some great teamwork put Toby to the left of goal, who went right to the by-line and cut the ball back for George to tap home the equaliser.

Then it happened again.

Not ones to make things easy on ourselves, we conspired to concede exactly the same goal all over again. A long ball over, defender spun, attacker through on goal - half time, 2-1.

The second half was more evenly matched, with a bit of back and forth, and some decent football from both sides. Despite running uphill and facing the wind, Ollie H still had the pace of a hungry whippet, and provided a lovely pass through for Another equally hungry whippet in George, who fired the ball into the net to make it 2-2. Marvellous!

With the game finely balanced, Mother Nature decided she wanted a say in the outcome, and she’s obviously a Delaford Colts fan… a decent Panthers clearance fell to a Delaford Colt barely out of his own half, and the lad swung his foot and made a decent connection - the ball arced through the air, and we’re all waiting for the cry of “Cash’s” as the ball looked to barely threaten the 18 yard box… then an icy wind doth blow - and it took the ball a full mile and a half further on, and dumped it into the back of poor Harry’s net.

Gutted.

The final whistle and the wind blew.