As the last of the LC parents shut their car doors and drove off from Colwick, Ramsey, Batesy and Pop Collen stopped for a breather with the nets and balls in the middle of the horse track. Ramsey looked over Batesy’s shoulder then shouted “Run Richard the horses are coming”. A look of panic and fear came on to Batesy’s face as he frantically scuttled across the track. Of course there were no horses. It just meant that Batesy would need to change all his clothes when he got home, not just his muddy tracksuit.

The fog was chill you to the bone stuff when the LC coaching staff set out on a magical mystery tour first to pick up the nets then to find the ground. Dave Johnson had told Ramsey to turn left at Colwick traffic lights, look for a track signposted to the watersports centre and continue down this over a bridge to a fisherman’s hut and  the nets could be found. Miraculously the Knoxmobile managed to find its way there only to discover that the fisherman wanted several groats in exchange for the nets. Fortunately Batesy’s wallet was stuffed with his weekend beerwedge and with the nets safely in the boot the teambus moved on in search of the pitch having been given several clues on how to get there from the helpful mariner’s mate.

5 minutes later the pitch could be seen through the murk and gloom and after emptying the car and proceeding past the first pitch where Lowdham Pinks were warming up set about putting up the nets. The first went up without a hitch but alas the second goal had no hooks on it to hook the net over. Undaunted Ramsey who is normally the world’s least practical man miraculously pulled out a fresh roll of strong tape from his car boot and the Henesy Ho(l)mes team of Navvies completed the job.

With Dom stepping into the breach for the ref who couldn’t make it and the boys suitably warmed up the football started. Harry who had got there like an early bird between the sticks with his new goallie trousers, Charlie, JC, Sam and Joe at the back,  Big W, Captain Marvel, Jonno, and Ollie across the middle and Sherlock and Fraser Knox restored to the side after injury up front. Sherwood too had a couple of changes to the team the Colts had played two weeks before in their first fixture. LC kicked off on a muddy and very heavy pitch and had the ascendency in the early exchanges. It was clear that they were not going to have it all their own way and as the Sherwood number 5 burst through it was only good luck and a slice from a bobble that prevented him scoring. This proved a wake up call for LC and after a goalmouth stramash Fraser Knox banged in number 1 followed shortly after by a cute Jonno chip into the top corner 2-0. Sherwood had a couple of good chances to pull one back but Harry stood firm in goal and when Fraser was upended in the box it looked like 3-0 at halftime but unfortunately pulled the resulting penalty just wide. 2-0 at halftime and Fraser Kemp on for Joe.

Second half and it looked like LC were going to rue that penalty miss when straight from the KO the Sherwood number 5 broke through and coolly slotted past Harry. 2-1 but then LC showed their spirit when virtually straight from the next KO Ollie burst down the right, cut inside and shot low and to the keeper’s right. Two more goals shortly after from Fraser Knox and Jonno and Cam on for Big W who had shown some nice touches going forward. 5-1 and LC kept their foot on the pedal to the end with Elliot cashing in before a Fraser hatrick completion and a Sam Saville Howitzer completed the scoring with some more pack shuffling bringing Big W and Joe back into the action for Fraser Knox and Elliot. 8-1 and a great performance against a Sherwood side who always looked dangerous on the break particularly their number 5.

You Reds!