I was told growing up that a good story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Well, in this story, the mighty Optimists were 5–1 up at the beginning, 5–2 up in the middle, and deserved winners at the end.

There was a nervous energy in the changing rooms before pushback. The boys knew the weight of this one — last week’s loss was the first league defeat since February, and skipper King made it clear: take it seriously, or it could be a long afternoon. The visitors, Holcombe 4s, had finished second last season, narrowly missing out on promotion.

But Folkestone came flying out of the blocks. Within five minutes, a flowing move between Ward, Jones, Rowe, Jimmins and King saw Tom Jones drive into the D unchallenged and lash home for 1–0. Moments later, Sam Ireland absolutely leathered a penalty corner strike to double the lead. 2–0, 6 minutes gone and cruising. This, was unexpected.

Holcombe hit back with a thunderbolt penalty corner of their own — 2–1 — but the response from the Beach Boys was immediate and ruthless. A deflected finish from Ben Allon at the left post made it 3–1, Jack Timmins turned in a neat finish after superb baseline work from Harry Rowe Salah for 4–1, and then Timmins again pounced for 5–1. 22 minutes played, frenetic stuff.

The Optimists were in dreamland. For about five minutes.

Holcombe began to grow into the game, winning penalty corners for fun. They hit the crossbar. The post. Had one saved by Chris “Boots” Stephens. Another cleared off the line by Ireland. It was heroic, last-ditch stuff — pure backs-to-the-wall hockey.

Then came a moment of pure chaos. Ali Sutton, faced with a Holcombe striker dancing through the D, went for the nuclear option. Whistle. Yellow card. Ten minutes in the bin. Folkestone down to ten.

It felt like the tide might turn, but the Optimists refused to wilt. Minister, Hagger, Jones, Ball and Ward ran themselves into the ground, scrapping for every inch of AstroTurf, throwing bodies in the way, and generally making life miserable for Holcombe.

Half-time. 5–1. Battered, breathless, and somehow still ahead.

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The second half

Tom Nicholls — fresh from scoring the coveted Club Goal of the Week for the 6th XI — had already been carrying a shoulder injury and was unable to continue. With limited options, Minister dropped back to cover right half, and Tom Jones stepped into unfamiliar territory as the midfield screen.

The disruption showed. Holcombe began to dominate possession, their silky forwards gliding through midfield while Folkestone’s defensive line lunged, slid and scrambled to stay afloat. In reality it's all they had, skill to carry the ball, but a lack of passing to breakdown a fearless and relentless Optimist defensive unit.

Then another injury — Minister, already filling in at right half, took a crunching shoulder hit from Holcombe’s sizeable striker and grimaced his way through the rest of the game. His face at the end, expected to be jubilation, was one of agony. We await news on how serious this one is.

Moments later, a potentially far more serious incident saw a Holcombe player struck, hard, in the side of the head. Immediate concern from both sides, and he was taken straight to the on-site ambulance station. Everyone at Folkestone wishes him a speedy recovery.

When play resumed, Holcombe continued to press, earning a consolation goal from yet another penalty corner with about ten minutes to play. 5–2. But by then, the damage was done. Too little, too late.

The final stages grew feisty — a few flashpoints, plenty of barking and testosterone — but the experienced umpiring duo of Sarah Andrews and Stuart Wise kept control magnificently. Lesser umpires would have struggled to keep composure.

As the final whistle blew, a collective cloud of exhales rolled across Three Hills. 5–2. The elation amongst the blues was palpable. A gritty, imperfect, yet thoroughly deserved win.

Man of the Match - Sam Ireland. Crunching.

So. Onwards they march. The Beach Boys are back baby! Allez Les Blues, indeed. Allez Les Blues.

Next week: K-Sports away (who?). The Ops are ready to kick on their campaign. Ask yourself, are you ready?