For Puckering it was Dunkirk, The Alamo, Custer's Last Stand and the Charge of the Light Brigade all rolled into one. As each man took to the field steely-eyed, he knew that before them lay their toughest challenge.

From the first, the waves of Imbiben's impressive firepower threatened to drown the defense of Puckering. Yet one man stood ever valiant against the rampaging foe, and that man was Knobbly. Against every Imbiben attack, he stood firm, except on the two occasions when Imbiben scored. But it was a counter-attack that led them to the first scent of victory. Gladstone shot up the wing like a fighter plane, his cross fell like a bomb onto the willing pate of Andy 'The Head' Burstow, and from there it was a short nod to the goal. Puckering were behind 2-1.

Walsham rallied his team with a strong half-time speech. "I told them we will fight them in the middle, we'll fight them on the sides and we'll fight them in the penalty box," said Walsham proudly. "And they responded magnificently."

If the first half was a battle, then the second half was a war. Yet the Irregulars soldiered on with their backs to the wall and Andrews unmoved in goal. And then from nowhere the game was tied. Bolger's frantic boot from the heart of the defense was picked up by Ferdinand in no-man's land. Yet probably no-one was more surprised than he when his shot rifled past the keeper, like a bullet from a gun, for the Irregulars second goal.

Yet it was still not enough.

The Irregulars finest hour came with only a minute left. Emerging from the trenches, Knobbly barreled up the middle like a racing tank, his cross rocketing off the Imbiben defenders and into the path of young Burstow. He made no mistake, the ball hit the back of the net, and victory was theirs.

Kentish Wanders 2 Irregulars 1

Puckering lost their way against the Wanderers Saturday and now face time in the wilderness of village football. They will finish the season against the all-conquering E. Imbiben and need a win to stay in the league. For manager Bert Walsham it is time to look for the positives.

"It’s not been an easy season for us but I think we’ve shown clear signs of improvement. We were in the game until the end and it wasn’t over until the final whistle. You know I wish I could be out there with the lads, but I know my place. I’ll stay on the touchlines encouraging them on."

Albert Bell, captain of the Wanderers, was blunt about Puckering’s skills. "Well they’re awful, really. You feel embarrassed to only win by one goal. The young lad can play a bit, but he’s a child amongst men. Knobbly relies on his reputation, but the only thing he can hit with any accuracy is other players. Their wingers can’t cross, the midfield can’t pass and their goalkeeper’s main attribute is that he’s so fat that he creates his own gravity and draws the ball in."

In a small field a man awoke to find the sun setting, his companions gone, and his new neighbour a raging bull. To stay would be foolish, to run idiotic. The beast must be faced and some token taken, before he could leave with pride.

Facing hated rivals West Bean and missing young Burstow, (suspended after his brush with the law) the Irregulars came out on top in a hard fought game. The derisive chants of Ogee Ogee Ogee, Oi Oi Oi seemed to inspire Knobbly Lyles to new feats of footballing ferocity. He scored his first goal on the season burying both the ball and goalkeeper in the back of the net in a aggressive charge. Another goal, on a cross-cum-shot by winger Gladstone, quietened the crowd for a while. But when Bean pulled on back their yobbish supporters were back to questioning how irregular the puckering players are.

When Ferdinand back-heeled the winning goal with three minutes to go manager Bert Walsham's joy was unconfined and Lyles made a gesture that the cub scout's would not have endorsed. For Walsham some of the crowd's comments were out of line "I can take the odd joke about us not being able to be stopped, but when they threw laxatives  out there. Well it turned my stomach."

Without Lyles intimidating presence, Puckering were no match for Featherstone's light touch. Moving the ball around at will, their old but still magical midfielder, Joey Greaves, floated across several enticing crosses which were stroked with perfect ease by Featherstone’s main striker Frank Lambent.

The Puckering Irregulars may have lost a battle on Saturday, but the tactics of their manager, Bert Walsham, may eventually win them the war. For the first time this season Puckering were actually leading a game, thanks to the quickness of young striker Burstow, and the intimidating defense of Knobbly Lyles. Wooden Forest's back four  seemed rooted to the spot compared to the speed of Puckering's first-time goal scorer and both he and the ball ended up in the net after a glorious run through the middle. At the back Lyles' reputation stood before him like bad breath on a first date, and none came near. Yet once again Lyles' temper got the better of him and, after being cautioned for barking at the Forest center forward, he was admonished by the referee and given a yellow card. Knobbly reacted to the unjustified caution by kicking the ball at the referee. Unfortunately, given the general accuracy of the Irregulars, he struck him on the back of the head. It was now that the manager stepped in.

"What Knobbly did was unprofessional, but I don’t think he meant the ball to hit him. Anyway the ref was stunned a bit, so whilst he was gathering his wits and getting the grass out of his glasses, I substituted Knobbly. When the ref came to and tried to send him off, he was already gone! He'll now be available next week and I think we'll have him taking the free kicks!"

Without Lyles, the Irregulars stumbled at the end and their opponents swept forward like leaves driven by the wind. But determined defense kept Forest to a single goal, allowing them to come away with a draw and a valuable point.

St. Annes 5 Irregulars 1

Still without a win this season Puckering fell 5-1 to local rival St. Annes. The one bright spot for Puckering was a goal by Young Burstow, son of goalkeeper Andy ‘The Head’ Burstow. The youngster had been drafted because of a shortage of players for Puckering and, though regularly knocked off the ball, his pace troubled St. Annes throughout the game. His Dad noted with pride that the young lad could have scored several times had he not passed the ball at the end of several exciting runs. Puckering striker Ferdinand, still experimenting with shooting with his left foot, had several attempts on goal that left the nearby squirrels guarding their nuts.

Despite the sixth consecutive loss, manager Bert Walsham was upbeat. ‘We’re consistent," he noted, "we have been able to manage to play to the same standard each week, which is something we can build on." More helpful to Puckering may be the fact that Knobbly Lyles will be back on the field next week. Knobbly is finishing a long suspension after taking a chunk out of an opponent's leg. He is expected to put some bite back into the defense.