The last game I played for the Ressies was marked by Jason Lockwood appearing between the sticks wearing the lesser seen goalkeeping accessories of jeans and a scarf. The club, as a whole, had come along leaps and bounds since then, so I was intrigued to see what the new era under Dean Docherty was all about. The pre-announced team sheet was full of unfamiliar names but of those I knew there was a clear step up in quality. Gone were the Clown Shoes and Waynes of this world and in replace some first team quality through the likes of Ace and Charlie.

The rest of the squad was an unknown quantity, and with Ian Pearce and Conrad Kane (a strike-force I had faced for the first team) I knew it was going to be a big challenge. But as it turns out this was a challenge they passed with flying colours.

The pre-game preparation was relaxed, just as I like it. Charlie and I pulled up exactly 60 minutes before kick-off and appeared to be the only car in the car park. On entering the clubhouse Deano was already there doing the paperwork with a couple of other lads I didn’t recognise. In between filling in the registration sheet, the Gaffer was tucking into a prawn salad. He was clearly leading by example, and it was working. I could not sense a sniff of a hangover – in years gone by that was a pre-requisite to getting a starting place. Keeping your squad calm before a big game is something any manager young or old is challenged with – it had that feeling about the place but I couldn’t put my finger on why. It was only a few moments I noticed the masterstroke of our tactician. Playing from the big screen, with no audio, was Bargain Hunt – and there’s nothing that says “hey, relax, it’s only a game” then seeing Dawn, 52 from Altrincham, visibly whooping after getting a tenner for that old ashtray she was left by Auntie Doreen who sadly succumbed to lung cancer. Some of the old touches were still alive and kicking though – Stinky provided the Jaffa cakes which news to me now came in a new fangled bar form. It’s fair to say they were an overall hit, with a few players grumbling about the sponge to orange marmalade ratio. But again, beautifully it was keeping minds off the game ahead.

The changing room was a little more serious and quiet. Though without the likes of Ryan Campbell and Diggers, it was always likely to be. We left the changing room late enough to ensure that the warm up was rushed – and we went into the game fairly cold without breaking too much of a sweat. Unprofessional you may say, but I hate a warm-up, so was happy. Tron on the other hand did not benefit too well from this and his old (sorry, experienced legs) did not see him through to the even the starting whistle. We had lost our skipper before the game had begun, and Aykut filled in at left back.

The first half was a really good performance, against a physical and organised side. Scott and Sam upfront linked up well, David and Ace were composed at the back and Charlie and Zachary were dealing with a good midfield very well. There was good supply coming from the widths, dare I say I even got a through balls into the box myself (though I was up against someone who, impressively, was about half my size). Deano seemed pretty happy at half time – we were dominating possession playing the better football on a very boggy pitch – and aware that on the break we could be caught.

The second half really started to open up. Gerald was rolling back the years with some direct runs and starting to cause real trouble. He was guilty of missing a header from point blank range, but it looked like the goal had to soon come. It was actually Oxted that had some of the best chances as the game drew to a close. The Premiership winning medal holder, Pearce, had the best of them. But he was twice denied by the very impressive Luigi in goal. A teammate tried to have a little moan as he felt he was in a better position to score, but he was soon put in his place and went running back to left midfield with his tail between his legs.

It took until the final moments of the game for the first and only goal of the game, but on the run of play it was supplied by the right team. Scott (or Sam, the smaller of the new two strikers) brought a cross from the right down beautifully and with his left foot dispatched it superbly. 1-0, and soon after the final whistle was blown.

A well contended game all round, on a pitch that did not lend itself to some good football. That in mind we played some good stuff, and that is not what I had come to expect from the second string team at Tooting Bec. It’s a credit to the commitment and work that Deano has put in, and the team are paying him back with effort. There are a number of players in that lineup now that could easily challenge for the first team and that has never been the case in my 5 or so years at the club. Ace has always had the ability, but David alongside him also was very impressive. A player in the mould of AJ, reads the game well and comfortable on the ball for a centre back. Zach has huge potential at only 17 or 18. Great dribbling skills – but knows when to dribble and when to pass – too often youngsters at that age will just hang on to it until finally tackled. In Scott and Sam the team appear to have two players that are both strong finishers. I could even stretch to say that that is the first time in my history at this club. Even the best strike force of Chris Winn and Nathan who got a lot of goals, at least in Asare relied on a bit of strength to get the ball in the back of the net. There was no weak link in the team either. Aykut was very strong, and might have felt unlucky to be named on the bench after that performance and Rudy added good energy to midfield four.

Next up is in form Abbey Rangers and the team will need to kick on from what has been a slightly slow start in terms of picking up wins. If they can keep the core of this squad together, they should be challenging for promotion come the end of the season.