With the 1s and 3s having sown up their leagues, all eyes turned to club favourites the Mighty Sevens this weekend in their penultimate game of the season.

In their third successive away game this month, fresh off the back of trumping a hard fought game to Sittingbourne last weekend, they travelled to Sevenoaks, looking to do the double after a resounding 9-0 victory at home earlier in the season. Avid readers will recall that game saw their enigmatic, inspirational skipper Muledenny score an electric hattrick…could there be a repeat in this reverse fixture?

Although Sevenoaks have not had the best of seasons and at the very bottom end of the table, the Sevens weren’t taking any of the game with any complacency, fielding a strong side with what was to be the Fronz’s last ever game for the team. Well, this season, anyway.

And, from the push back they were quick out of the gates, looking to strike an early blow. Such was their possession, for the first ten minutes of so, the home side were camped in their own half as wave after wave of Sevens attacks bore down on their defence, leaving their own back line relatively untroubled.

With crisp passing through the midfield and using the width of the pitch well, with such pressure, it was only a matter of time before the home side’s defences were breached. A deft flick through from Borris to skipper Muldenny saw him strike the ball at the defender’s feet to win a short corner. This was injected by midfield maestro Messy for the imposing Mjölnir to competently despatch for his first of the day: 1-0.

With their tails up and smelling blood in the water, the frenzy of play intensified as the visitors sought to double their lead which came shortly after, yet another goal mouth foray saw Muldenny, attempting to latch onto a lovely cross from Messy bundled over by a defender with Mjölnir sweeping up and deftly slot past the keeper: 2-0.

Keen to capitalise and with some fine work from young Riley Giles in defence, along the wing to Vernon Tumble and finding the stick of Woody Shaw to flick past the defender the Ops third goal with his first touch of the game: 3-0.

Sevenoaks weren’t out though and, with a lull in play from the Sevens, capitalised and pushed through in a rare foray that caught the visitors napping and breached the Ops defence for a glimmer of hope: 3-1. Could this be a comeback for the home side?

In a word, no. The tireless work of Giles and Tumble on the wing saw the latter launch an aerial into the D for Muledenny to niftily volley the ball past the flailing keeper in the top corner in what was certainly goal of the game if not the season for the electric skipper and his seventh of the campaign: 4-1 and half time.

Despite the comfortable lead, the Sevens weren’t about to sit back and came out for the second half determined to further strengthen their lead and goal difference at the top of the table. And, we might as well get this out of the way, after yet another pinpoint pass from Messy, Muldenny missed for what should have been a cast-iron goal only for that man Mjölnir to once again sweep up and secure his hattrick: 5-1.

Continued great work from the backs of Stuart Crableston, Simon Hannibal and Luce Cannon ensured that the traffic largely remained one-way, and with Messy’s marshalling of the midfield and long-ball passing, opportunities abound were being created, frustrating and irritating the hosts. With close calls from Simon Bakes, the ever terrier-like Fronz and young Elliot Wilson mistiming his connection from a great knock on from Mjölnir incredibly didn’t change the scoreline, but further goals were certain.

Inevitably, the duo of Messy and Mjölnir once again provided the goods for the sixth and seventh goals; from a short corner for Messy after Muldenny won another short corner – although this should have been a penalty flick - and open play for Mjölnir’s fifth of the game, taking his tally for the season to an incredible 45…. surely a club record.

In the post-match press conference, a jubilant skipper Muldenny remarked: “Another great game for the lads; going into the last game at home we remain three points clear and, whilst it’s mathematically possible that even if we lose badly next week, Sittingbourne will have to win by a significant margin to topple us from the top spot.

“It’s been an almost perfect season for us, and whilst undoubtedly, they’ll be talking about my amazing goal for years to come, it’s important to remember that it’s more than about one astounding player on the pitch, but a sensational team, too.

“Without taking anything away from our opponents, we played exceptionally today; from Tray between the sticks to marauding forwards, once again, everyone put in a shift and did everything asked of them. Every game this team has played has been a pleasure to be part of.

“For our last game next week, fittingly we’re first up on the show pony number one pitch for what we anticipate will be a carnival of celebration, led by the social team of the club everyone wants to be a part of – there’s rumours that Sky Sports and ESPN are arguing over broadcast rights for this Main Event spectacular, but we’re just concentrating on a final 70 minutes of entertaining, quality hockey that illustrates this team’s unity and progression.

“We’re a proud to represent this fantastic club; the headlines are great, and this season has seen some amazing results across the board for our teams, but it’s been particularly special for us – we’ve been working on this for several years now, so to now realise it makes it all the more exceptional….we hope to finish the season in style, both on the pitch and in the bar afterwards!”