With an ill coastal breeze building after a fine morning, the Mighty Sevens ™️ stepped out on pitch 2 (should’ve been pitch 1) for the last fight of the season; indeed, a season-defining game as it would tell a story: does the fairytail continue, or does it die? The Mighties, having blitzed last season to be promoted, had ruled the roost for the entire season until the last four games when after successive wins, two draws and two losses saw the rest of the division smelling blood: the Mighties could be beaten.

But, our heroes had one mission in mind: win today, and glory would be ours. Sure, we couldn’t win the league – a questionably stacked Holcombe had put paid to that – but we could come runners up and promoted on the bounce if we won. So, fittingly, a game-defining last game – just the way the Sevens liked things.

With season-absentee Steve ‘Woody’ Shaw returning for a cameo after a successful full liver transplant operation and Littlest Hobo Gizmo returning from trips to far flung shores, the Sevens had a fully stacked team, eager to right the past few weeks wrongs and write their names in the history books. Dave was primed after a night in The Party Bar and even Milk Tray showed up with a hunger in his eyes that said: “Defend from the front, I don’t want to touch the ball and win”.

With the enigmatic, charismatic and indeed hydromatic skipper Mule Kennedy’s pre-match speech ringing in their ears, the Sevens took to the pitch with a grim and determined air: come what may, they would be victorious.

And, without spoiling the punchline, that’s exactly what happened: playing with a fervour and determination that had deserted them for the last few weeks, our boys just dug in in a Churchillian type manner to get the job done.

The game was one-sided, but, without taking anything from the opposition who had their own game to play, pushed the home side, it was inevitable that there would only be one victor. Despite being 0-0 at halftime, with so many opportunities being created, it was just a matter of time.

Too many to mention, but by the time 70 minutes had elapsed, that man Matt ‘Mjölinir’ Carter had notched up two more goals; the result of a total team game: every man played their part, supported passed, and brought it home.

We caught up with an emphatic, if exhausted skipper Dan ‘The Mule’ Kennedy post match for his thoughts: “Well, what can I say – it’s been quite the season! Having dominated for so long, the game at Holcombe I think might have been the turning point – the next four games we just weren’t well, us – and we paid for it.

“However, let’s take a moment to look at what we have achieved: back-to-back promotions with a rag-tag bunch of mostly ‘mature’ players that’s kept things consistent, played fairly and kept our approach to playing hard on the pitch and just as hard in the bar afterwards. I am immensely proud of each and every player in my team; I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday than with these chaps, playing the game we love, with our mates. Bring on 2026/27 and let’s see how we play with our new friends in the sandbox – bring it on!”