Result: Southgate Titans 6 – 1 Old Kingstonians
Goalscorers: Tony Wizbek (x2); Nick Wood (x2); Rich Martins; Jatin Patel
At first, the pleasant air gave no hint of the upheaval to follow. Indeed, Old Kingstonians opened the scoring early, a sharp break catching us half-asleep, perhaps admiring the autumnal foliage surrounding Pitch 2. But that strike signalled the first raindrop on a tin roof: the barometer plunged, the isobars tightened, and the Titans’ forward line gathered with intent.
Gusting to gale-force, our weather-wizard Coach Chris pressed the “”release chaos”” button, and the downpour began.
A brace from injector Wiz at penalty corners, his stick crackling like a live wire: first a snapshot off a rebound, then a return-to-sender ruthlessly smashed home. Nick followed with a deft right-post deflection at another corner and then a field goal for good measure. Rich slotted another in open play as we surged forward with tailwind assistance. By half time, the scoreboard read 5–1 and the visitors looked as though they’d gladly trade it in for the relative calm of the Caribbean rather than face this tumult in Trent Park.
More atmospheric turbulence in the second half: swirling midfield possession, territorial pressure, and a forward press closing them in tight as hurricane shutters on a beach bar. OKs decided the only way to save their bus home was to park it and surround it with every sandbag in Surrey. But the Titan-ic front remained unrelenting, and Jatin tucked away a tidy finish after patient build-up play.
A late visit to the naughty step for Biff added a brief squall of drama. But the defence, untroubled and unruffled, used the interlude to rehearse emergency protocols and tidy up a few stray leaves.
Final score: Titans six, Old Kingstonians one.