In what was almost certainly a title decider, Folkestone’s Mighty Sevens faced their toughest match in this season’s campaign: Sittingbourne 4s. These top two sides – separated only by goal difference - have both have outstanding seasons and the stakes couldn’t have been any higher for this return trip as these two titans finally lined up on a crisp, bright spring morning in Sittingbourne with their sights firmly fixed on the league title: make no mistake, this was a must-win game for both teams to push either ahead in the closing stages of the season and take control of their destiny.

The Sevens, owing to a lack of available personnel through holidays or unavailable from other teams, were forced to travel lightly for such an important fixture with only two subs; however, this was the core team that has played together all season, so perhaps fitting for such a fixture.

Bolstered by a hearty team breakfast that witnessed Vernon Tumble tackling his first challenge of the day – the full English, with the emphasis on the word ‘full’ the Sevens arrived in typically optimistic mood, although with respect for their well-structured, effective-play opponents – the home fixture had been challenging but had resulted in victory for the club favourites….but could they do the double?

With a sizable subs bench and quite the partisan, vocal crowd on the sidelines making their presence felt, the Sevens took the cauldron that was Sittingbourne’s home turf and began the next 70m minutes that could easily decide their season.

Early exchanges were fiercely contested, with early forays raining down on the Sevens back lines, but they stood firm in the face of some early short corners and probes from the Sittingbourne forwards, endeavouring to set the tone and apply pressure, looking for cracks. But, like Gandalf facing that bloody big demon Balrog thing on that bridge, the stout backs were defiant and shouted back ‘You. Shall. Not. Pass!’

It was testament to the determination and coordination of Lucan, Crab, Tumble, Luce and HB that Tray’s goal was by and large well-protected, but boy, did those lads have their work cut out. But cut it out they did, time after time riding the wave of attacks. And, when called into action and lines of defence were breached, Tray’s keeping was simply outstanding to frustrate and deny the home side.

Breathless stuff. But this wasn’t to be all one-way traffic, oh no. Ring-mastering the centre was the electric Messy, who’s vision, marshalling and clinical passing were gradually turning a game of defence into attack. Time and time again, pushing the ball to through the mids of Borris and the Fronz or seeking to release the forward hounds to reap their own carnage. And, whilst opportunities on goal were infrequent, the tireless work of the forwards from young Giles, Mule and Mjölnir was wearing the home side down. They might have been playing a more technical and skilled side, but the Sevens had something the home side did not: effort. And effort trumps skill any day – and it was beginning to pay off.

Then came the breakthrough: with a pace that defied his breakfast-packed belly, Tumble broke through on the right, and with the vision of bird of prey waiting for the opportunity to pounce, Messy launched an aerial high and long from Seven’s half directly to Tumble’s outstretched stick for him to volley past the flailing keeper and billow the back of the net: 1-0 to the visitors!

Clearly rocked, the home side struggled to regain a foothold. And, under the blitzkrieg of raining high balls in their defensive lines, cracks began to show, so when the halftime whistle blew, there was clear relief for them to regroup and recompose.

Everyone to a man had already put in a shift, but, after what was an oddly sobering halftime talk from Rowley-Birkin Shaw to hold fast and maintain the course fuelled by some much-needed Haribo sugar-enriched sweets, the Sevens entered the arena determined to see the job through.

Egged on by the partisan home crowd, Sittingbourne were swift out of the traps, determined to level the playing field quickly. With short corner after short corner, surely something would crack in the Seven’s defence at some point? Well, not if the Ops backs had anything to say about – and, led by Tray, they had plenty to say. Performing saves that had even the home forwards giving him credit, this easily had to be Tray’s best game in what has been a stupendous inaugural season as a keeper.

Then came the what was to be the nail in Sittingbourne’s coffin as, reading the game brilliantly, Mjölnir saw where the home side’s right back was going to pass, and, with a speed that belied all on the pitch, pounced with Flash-like speed to intercept and drove towards the circle. Attempting to redeem himself, the defender tracked back to close the forward down, but, to add insult to injury, Mjölnir cut back on the outside of the hapless defender to take the ball on the reverse and deftly reverse stick a blazing shot to loudly crack the backboard of the goal a draw a collective moan from the now muted supporters: 2-0 and ten minutes remaining on the clock.

And these last ten minutes seemed like an eternity as Sittingbourne threw everything including kitchen sinks at the visitors, determined to find a way through. This was turning into the siege of the Alamo, but the only hot heads were the home side; the Sevens remained composed and drilled, which only served to frustrate the hosts even more. Blissfully, the whistle blew for the conclusion of what was an epic encounter with the home side gracious in defeat, praising the Seven’s game and acknowledging with jugs of beer in the bar shortly after.

Commenting on the match, Muledenny, the elated 7s skipper struggled for unique adjectives to describe the team and game that hadn’t been used a number of times already, such has been the superlative effort put in by this squad this season. But, he gave it a good go: “What. A. Game. And what a team; it’s just a pleasure to step out alongside these lads, every week. My wife really isn’t a fan of hockey and the ‘distraction’ it causes to our home life from October to April, but it’s worth the fallout to be with these boys when we play games – and have a season – like this: just electric.

To a man, everyone put everything into that. We all knew the importance and we all stepped up. Consequently, it’s difficult to single out any one person amongst an incredible thirteen superstars, but it would be remiss of me to not make a couple of highlights. Tray is having an outstanding season between the sticks and today he made some incredible saves. Our back line: coordinated, cool and collected; Lucan made it virtually impossible to be passed by, stealing the ball back time and time again and Luce was fantastic running back and forth sweeping up and passing out to the mids. Riley Giles was like a machine and ran his heart out once more – what a performance. But, a special mention must go to Messy’s marshalling of the game – it was awesome – he really pulled the strings today.

We’ve now put three vital points between us and second-placed Sittingbourne with two games to go, so we’re guaranteed promotion, come what may and it’s pretty much in our hands as to how we finish. But, we’re taking nothing for granted and really want to close out the season at the top of the table with a near-perfect record, so it’s full steam until the last minute of the last game.

Today’s game was really one for the club history books and will sit in the memory for a long, long time. I’m immensely proud to be a part of this team; we play hard on the pitch and just as hard in the bar afterwards. Across the board, the club’s teams have had a great season with a number of promotions this year, and we’re elated that we’re part of that success story; not bad for a social team of mainly older players, eh?”