Saturday’s game was an FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying tie at Leatherhead, my first trip there since the ‘70s. After a morning of sunshine it had become so dim that the ref asked for the lights to be switched on at ten past three. The play was a bit on the dull side too, Mangotsfield United from Bristol scoring on 26 minutes and Tanners’ efforts to level apparently fizzling out.

But, two minutes from time, a low cross in from the right was missed by players of both sides and Leatherhead’s No.10 rushed in to blast the ball high into the net. Suddenly it felt like a good game. Tanners won the replay on penalties last night and now go to Bashley in the New Forest in the next round.

It was sunny and warm(!) as St Andrews and Moat kicked off at the White Lion Ground at 1pm before a crowd of 41, self included. Saints did nearly all the attacking in the first half, yet inexplicably found themselves 2-0 down at the break. A Moat player called 'T.C' back-headed the first goal and the only other person standing with me behind the goal turned out to be his brother.

'T.C' had scored despite colliding with the home ‘keeper, the latter receiving treatment for a bizarre seven minutes. He certainly wasn’t badly injured; if anything was broken, it was probably his heart.

St Andrews, winners of eight trophies in the last two seasons, pulled a goal back on 66 minutes but looked to have run out of time. Then, in the 90th minute, a Saints sub chipped the ‘keeper for a dramatic equaliser. The same player completed an unlikely hat-trick in the four minutes of stoppage time to make it 4-2 and there were scenes of delirium at the end.

Last night’s Trophy replay between Northwood and AFC Hornchurch was my 81st game of the season. Urchins dominated the first period, didn’t score, missed a penalty and Woods grabbed two goals in eight minutes to put themselves in the driving seat. It became 2-1 on 77 minutes but Woods held on after some fantastic scrambles near their goal-line.

FA Cup First Round Proper at the weekend. Can’t wait.