After 4 weeks in lockdown, Milton Keynes 2s looked forward to getting their season back underway with a trip to West Hampstead on a bright winters afternoon. With new restrictions meaning all players having to make there own way to the game, it was a minor miracle that almost all of the MK contingent managed to turned up in the right place and on time. The one exception to this being Ryan Gawley who despite living the closest to the ground, parked in the wrong car park and turned up 20 mins after the meet time.

Over the last few seasons these games have always being tight affairs, and the opening period of play proved no difference with both teams happy to keep position round the back, but chances being few and far between. Eventually it was West Hampstead who opened the scoring with short corner routine that somehow found it’s way through the Sam Spencer in the MK goal. In one of the few chances of the first half, MKs own flick specialist Callum Clarke saw his effort tip over the bar by the postman.

With time ticking away until half time, West Hampstead extended their lead further through another short corner. It was at this point MK finally came alive to produce there best move of the match. David Emery (Weeble0 found himself in space down the right hand channel, and drilled the ball into the D where Dave Breuilly had time his run to perfection to deflect the ball into the far corner on the stroke of half time to give MK a foothold at half time.

Unfortunately they couldn’t build upon this, and it was West Hampstead who extend their lead at the start of the second half with the on rushing tucking away a head-height ball at the back post. MK managed to carve out a few chances in the second half, the best of which falling to Tom Johnson who managed to deflect a short corner across the face of goal, but failed to put any sustained pressure on West Hampstead. This wasn’t helped when MK found themselves down to 9 men, with Mark Sibson and Weeble managing to talk themselves into a spell on the sidelines, both being green carded at the same time by each umpire leading to much confusion in the MK ranks.

As in the first half, MK scored with the last hit of the game. Captain Dave McMillan provided the moment of inspiration, with a sharp turn at the top of the D and dispatching his shot past the keeper to get off the mark for the season. After a disappointing afternoon, MK host Marlow next week looking to get back on the winning track.

Man of the match: Ryan Gawley – Probably something to do with playing well, although all this reporter can remember is Ryan complaining all week about the delay in producing the report to capture his moment in the spotlight

Dick of the day: Tom Johnson – Couldn’t hit a barn door, despite several efforts