First game back after 5 months and the usual early-season game against HAC would always be a test, one which WBFC 1s usually win.

HAC were first at the ground, first to the ball, first to score and first to the OT's bar (in their 6s). Hard to argue that they deserved the 3 points.

Borough 1s looked sluggish in the 1st half, as though pre-season hadn’t happened at all. A physically fit squad for sure, however not match sharp in the early stages of this game.

HAC dominated the opening exchanges and scored from 1 yard out going ahead after 20 mins, after a goalmouth melee. It could have been worse.

Borough 1s nearly got on the score sheet when Pym decided the simplest way of clearing a dangerous cross was to head hard at Baker’s goal from 8 yards out. Baker scrambled to keep Borough in the game and cleared the lines. As well as a few important saves Baker helped keep Borough afloat.

Cooper made a superb challenge to stop a certain goal and Gibb found himself 1 on 1 multiple times, managing to hold off the HAC raids and protect Borough's chance of getting into the game at some point.

Murray decided the better route was to try and head it into the oppo's net. Timing his run beautifully he responded, with agility, to a firmly driven deflected cross, with a looping header that was dropping into the far corner of the HAC net. Defenders and keeper were beaten.

Celebrations on the side had already begun as no HAC player could stop this equalizer. However skipper Barwick intervened to make sure, and headed the ball over from inside the 6-yard box.

Half time and Borough 1s' Manager gave an honest appraisal of the hapless first half. However also showing signs of missing really competitive games he gave the team too much to think about – and they forgot it all.

HAC immediately broke down the Borough right, crossed to the far post for the 9 to fire home 2 yards out. 46 mins, 2-0 down and both manager and team had come up short.

Borough 1s then showed up: the real Borough 1s.

Now first to the ball, passes were going from A to B, with tempo, and the work rate went up about 30%. Players started to dominate their opposite number all over the pitch.

James (Baz) Basnett, a summer signing, who had worked hard on scraps in the 1st half took a break, as did Latif with Borough switching to 3-4-3. Ndlovu and Denham added energy and verve to the group, which was now going forward, at will. The chances inevitably came.

Sam Rose arriving late in the box in a classic move fired over from 10 yards on an angle. The creative Ullyott cut in from the left and curled a ball wide of the keeper’s left-hand post.

Murry shot from inside the box which was scrambled clear, Winward had a superb shot desperately cleared off the line. Barwick, now down the middle, started to get the run on the opposition’s redhead, their best player, and the pressure felt certain to create a goal. The feeling was 1 could easily become 2 or 3.

Pym started to get in the game from an offensive perspective and Winward on the opposite side similar in the right-back spot. Pym helped overload the left then started a quick shift to Denham through the midfield to leave Denham free on the right side of the HAC box. A beautiful ball picked him out and as the ball bounced high to Denham all expected to see the net burst. Denham launched his shot just over the bar. Borough just could not breakthrough.

After a poor 46 minutes the entire group got their heads into the game and the rest of the match was all Borough 1s. Better finishing and 1 or 3 points were still possible. On the day not enough: not to be.

90 mins required this week, not 44. Start as we finished.