We welcomed Goldsworth Park to our rather damp home ground today. With fewer teams in the league now, we find ourselves in a division that comprises of the bottom half of our old division and half of the division below. It's been two years since we played this team but they gave us a good game on each occasion. How would we fare today?

Well, the game started well enough with the Pumas dominating the play, holding the ball in the opposition half and taking potshots at the opposition goal. However, unlike our recent friendlies, we didn't seem to have quite the same sense of urgency and, of course, said urgency was very much put to the test early on when the Goldsworth forwards got a lucky break and headed for our goal. After being forced wide, their ensuing pass into the box found a teammate and the Pumas were one-nil down.

The team fought back and Ethan showed us how it's done with a rocket of a shot, central of goal at the edge of the 18 yard box. He's been brilliant at training with his shooting and well weighted distribution, so it felt right to play him in the centre of the pitch alongside newcomer Isaac, who was himself an absolute nuisance to the opposition today. A little later, Ethan had been shuffled into right midfield and with Jacob stepping off the bench into a central role, a long pass and an epic run up the wing by Ethan saw him draw out and outfox three defenders. Of course, they couldn't get to him in time and he smashed the ball into the net from a tight angle. The kid was on fire today! Astounding.

Speaking of opportunities, quite a few more presented themselves. Dozie narrowly missed an opportunity as the ball fell under his feet from a parry by the keeper. Patrik had a good thwack and Jake had a few more goes of his own. If they weren't going wide or over, a great Goldsworth keeper definitely kept them in it!

Of course, if the forwards lose the ball, it's not the end of the world. If the defenders do, it can be pretty tragic. And tragedy struck as Jack was caught on the ball and dispossessed. He made a sterling effort to win it back but somehow helped the Goldsworth player lose their footing in the 18 yard box! The penalty that followed was from the David Wall school of penalty taking, cooly placed into the back corner. There was little that Corey could do about that.

I've got to say, though, that our defence of Adam, Jack, Will and Zayd, with Ryan as DM worked brilliantly. In fact, our formation really suited Ryan and he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Long ball? Controlled. Interception? Got it. Need a third central mid? Here I am! He looked like he was having the time of his life out there and his game would get even more exciting a little later on.

Yes, our defence were great. They controlled the danger a number of times and in the few times that Goldsworth had chances, Corey made some great saves. The best was when he absolutely went for broke, completely outstretched, diving for the ball and managed to get a hand to tip it past the post. A crucial save indeed.

So we were back to 2-2. Fortunately, Jake's numbers game saw an impressive shot hit the back of the net – and a nice little assist from Patrik. 3-2! Ethan had another crack and found the side of the net. He was so close to getting a hat-trick today. Crosses and corners found heads and feet but not the net. Sometimes the ball was over, sometimes wide and sometimes a great save from the keeper.

In the last 20, Goldsworth were awarded a free kick at the edge of our defensive third. It was a good free kick and parried away by Corey. Ryan was in the right zone but not quite close enough to get to the ball in time, and was just pipped by the Goldsworth shot that placed it low into our net. Even-Stevens again at 3-3!

More chances presented themselves for the Pumas as players made every effort to get the winning goal. Patrik had a shot, Adam overlapped Patrik and had a shot, just going wide. Yusuf almost got a header. Isaac made a great run alongside Jake and could probably have had a goal had Jake laid the ball off to him – not that you can blame Jake for having a go himself. Another shot headed for top bins but the keeper tipped it out for a corner. Moments later, Goldsworth were once again kept in it by their keeper, as he chased a rolling ball and pounced on it before it crossed the line.

But it was Ryan who secured the winner. I can't remember who was fouled but Ryan took the free kick, out on the right from outside the 18 yard box. Whether he intended for it to need an orange head on it or not, it sailed into the top left of the net. An early contender for free kick of the season and an epic goal indeed.

Moments later, the whistle blew for full time. A 4-3 win for the Pumas, an exciting and entertaining match, and a great start to the season. COYP!