What did you get for Christmas? Hypothermia. On a filthy Saturday afternoon this seemed a distinct possibility in the first half of games, as driving rain soaked and froze anyone not moving.

The 1sts game had fallen victim to the weather, Hale End's ground fit suited more for Nelson to fight the Battle of Jutland or Ajax, Achilles and Exeter sinking the Bismarck.

At Old Camdenians, two perfectly decent, typical AFA type of games, with the 2nds beat Camdenians 1sts 5-1 and the 4ths beating their 3rds 5-2. Lloyd Vanson scored a hat-trick for the 2nds, to take his tally for the season to twenty one, but Paul Bernard still closed the gap, notching four for the 4ths.

League action too for the 3rds, and a tough game against Egbertians, and a point hard won. Great credit to Pete Clothier, guesting in nets who showed the referee the way it should be done in pointing out a goal kick should have been a corner. Proper AFA spirit. Is he related to the Optimists striker who disputes every single offside decision against him. Shurely not.

Disappointment for the 7ths. Enfield Old Grammarians were held for 92 minutes, but the Accies couldn't break through, and Enfield scored to be the sole goal of the game right at the death. That second league win remains elusive.

1-0 down, 7-1 up. A curious game for the 5ths at Firs Farm. After half an hour, with the game scoreless and the Accies battling up a slope and into a gale, all looked good, and suddenly a Southgate player unleashed a screamer from 25 yards. The Accies fought back, and 1-1 at half time looked like advantage Accies in a big way. And so it came to pass - Saj Malik gave way to Andrew Penfold, and after 50 minutes of tough slog and defending into the elements saw his replacement notch a 5 minute standup pair from a combined distance of 2 yards. Graham Whitworth added four as the Accies cruised to a comfortable win.

Ravenscroft Old Boys 6 Accies 7ths 0.

More 90th minute dramas, both in key league games. 

A big fixture for the 1sts at home to Old Meadonians, last seasons runaway champions. The early exchanges suggested that there was space to play in and following the opening 15 minutes Meadonians settled the quickest forcing Dawson into several saves from long range. The Accies couldn't find their feet for the whole half being a little lucky to go in level at half time. 

A change of formation to 4-4-2 instantly paid dividends with Houghton feeding Hair on the inside channel. His cross was met by Jones at the far post to slot into the far corner.  There then followed 20 minutes of Accies pressure until a free kick on the edge of the box proved costly. Meads slotted the kick around the wall leaving Dawson helpless. It got worse with 10 minutes to go when an awkward ball flat footed the defence and Meads were 2-1 up. 

The recent never say die attitude again paid off with Delaney heading home Hirsts back post cross to equalise with 1 minute to go. On reflection a fair draw but 3 points was well within reach with man of the match Dawson keeping the Accies in it throughout.

A key game also for the 5ths, against Latymer Old Boys, and rarely can so much possession have not been converted into goals. Courtesy of the Turtle Handicap method the Accies found themselves 1-0 down, but soon pegged back to equalise and then simply laid siege to the Latymer goal in the second half. Just as it seemed that deadlock would be the result, Matt Glynn swung in let another dangerous corner, Saj Malik swung his left bollock and scored the winner. Delight and seemingly not for the first time, as later Mark Dawson came over all emotional and misty at memories of Saj's jewels from college. Worrying......

London Old Boys Cup action for the 2nds and 3rds, and superb results for both. The 2nds clinically disposed of Old Aloysians, leading 2-0 with ten minutes to go and then adding two more for good measure.

A few weeks ago Hale End's 2nds came to Shenley and got beaten, later compared to Custer at the Alamo (sic!). Their 3rds combined this and more - Napoleon at Trafalgar, Rommel at Stalingrad and Henry V at Bannockburn. The Accies rattled in a clean dozen goals, and Dave Wilkinson even contributed an own goal at the end to keep Matt Ramsden exercised and ruin his clean sheet. Shame!!!!

Accies 7ths 2 (Matt Styant) Enfield Old Grammarians 0 (Tom Lloyd).

It's a 90 minute game, and without that final minute the day would have been very different. After 89 minutes the 3rds trailed 2-1, the 4ths were drawing 2-2 and the 6ths were winning 2-1. A minute later and one point salvaged, but three points lost, as the 3rds equalised, the 4ths lost and the 6ths lost the lead.

The day was highlighted by a first league win for the 7ths, after a few trials and tribulations and teething troubles, the result came at (where else?) Donkey Lane, with a 2-0 decision over Enfield Old Grammarians.

A good first league win of the season, could have been 20 - 0 if Spenny's shoot on sight policy had paid off, just a shame he couldn't hit the target! A good solid performance at the back, first clean sheet for Lloyd, and a welcome return for Old Man Robinson! Deciding to play 4-5-1 seemed to work very well with good performances from both wide men, Oscroft and Were, the biggest differences between the two teams were Jim Mullins and Man of the Match and 2 goal hero Matt Styant on his return from injury.

In the AFA Senior Cup the firsts travelled to Parkfield, expecting a tight game, but perhaps not the ding dong affair that played out. Seven goals in total, with the Accies just having the Lion's share.

League action for the remainder of the sides, with the 2nds winning 2-1 away to Salvatorians in a game that shouldn't have been as close as it was. A tough game too for the 3rds, whose referee showed up twenty minutes late and who needed a last minute equaliser to secure a point, and keep the season's unbeaten record intact.

For the 4ths, the inconsistent season continued. 0-0 at half time into the wind, and then 2-1 up with ten minutes to go. But a penalty, and a last minute winner left them facing yet another league defeat.

The most gruesome of fates for the 5ths. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, no room to move, pushing, shoving and more grief than a man should suffer. No, not an AFA Cup match, but a day of shopping and brownie point garnering because of no league game. Hopefully, just like Christmas, shopping comes but once a year.

For the 6ths, a league game away to Leyton County Old Boys and in the absence of Bobby Butlin, a skippering debut for Dom Sumners and a juggling Turtle in goal. The Accies started slowly ("stalled on the grid and needing a push start would be a good description") and after 15 minutes a tonking looked a possibility. Quite significant that three people pre-game had offered to "do a half this week" only to discover to their horror we had a bare eleven!

But the Accies slowly got into the game, and with Leyton desperate to overelaborate they didn't push home their advantage, and despite taking a 1-0 lead after thirty minutes the Accies held out until half time to trail only 1-0. Dom's inspiring ten second team talk was all that was required, and the Accies were rapidly in formation for the second half while Leyton carried on with theirs.

With Tim Leeson and Chris Lewis looking increasingly assured at the back, and Andy Penfold rapidly learning the arts of playing fullback from Dom (if in doubt, boot the ball safe, if in doubt about that, kick the winger in the air!) the Accies took control in the second half. Dino Antoniades and Will Paxton took control of the midfield, and Will nailed an equaliser with an hour gone in the game.

By now the Accies really had the upper hand. Serge was finally starting to sober up after a fifteen hour bender the day/night before, and took the lead with a beauty from 25 yards. The game looked over, particularly when Graham Whitworth broke through but was foiled by the keeper.