With just a bare eleven making the trip to Lincolnshire to face Lindum 4s, it looked like it could be a long, painful afternoon for the Men’s 2nd Team. No subs, no safety net – just grit, graft, and good old-fashioned determination.

But against all odds, the game got off to a dream start. Kenners was quickest to react at a penalty corner, tucking away a tidy finish after Chris Cowley whipped the ball back across the D. Cue raised eyebrows and cautious optimism. Was being short on numbers our secret weapon?

Spirits were high… until disaster struck. Poor Chris took a ball square in the crown jewels. The sound echoed across the pitch like a church bell of agony. He dropped like a sack of spuds but, after a few minutes of "recovery breathing," bravely soldiered on.

Lindum eventually pulled one back late in the first half – a gut punch after a solid shift from the 2s – but a green card for the opposition gave the Men’s 2s a moment to catch their breath and tilt the momentum back in our favour. Cheers, lads.

As the second half wore on, it became proper squeaky-bum time. With no subs and tired legs everywhere, every run forward felt like climbing Everest. But then, with about 15 minutes left, opportunity knocked.

Lindum pushed high, and a two-man counter from Ewan Wrigley and Rob Smalley earned the 2s their second short corner of the match. Time to dust off a set-piece routine straight from the training manual. Despite a slightly wayward injection, quick thinking from Chesterfield saw captain Matt Drohan keeping the move alive, finding a pass to Matt Montford, who was on hand to smash home a thunderous finish. 2–1. Absolute bedlam. Followed immediately by the cold realisation: still 15 minutes to go… and half the team were already on their last legs.

The closing stages was a masterclass in backs-to-the-wall defending. Grit. Guts. Desperation. At times, the 2s dropped as deep as a quarter press. Sticks were flying, tackles flying harder, and the backline stood tall. Stand-in goalkeeper Joshua Rasen, making his 2nd team debut, pulled off a stunning triple save to keep Lindum at bay. Every clearance was met with cheers like we’d scored another goal.

And then – finally – the Full Time whistle. 2–1. Job done.

Eleven men. No subs. One battered Chris. Three points.

Man of the Match: Will Hallam

The Men’s 2s are back in home action this weekend against Sheffield Bankers 4s at 13:00.