The Ship were resplendent in their new kit and signed off for Christmas and 2011 with a gutsy win against a handy London XI side. The Ship started well against a potentially dangerous side that had already beaten runaway leaders Parklife earlier in the season and took an early lead. A quick throw from Kieran found Alex in the box and he shrugged off his defender in typical fashion (or "threw him into the 'crowd'" as Kieran said at half-time, briefly forgetting he wasn't playing semi-pro again) and finished sweetly with a precision curl into the bottom corner. This great start was pegged back however shortly after as a rare break down the left saw the London winger's cross jabbed past Simon at the near post by Digger for a cracking own goal. The Ship were undeterred and continued to press with Adil firing just wide and Ollie chipping a shot on to the bar. The striker was not to be denied his 11th goal in 11 games (did I mention that already?) and he squirmed a left foot volley through a crowd of players and in off the post after a scrambled corner. This gave the Ship a slender half-time lead and with London XI exhibiting a dangerous Delapidator throw-in it was always going to be a dangerous score-line. It was from this route that London XI equalised just after the break, Simon coming and missing one of these lengthy hurls and finding the ball glancing into his net. The Ship had learnt from their previous slip-up on this Mitcham pitch earlier in the season and responded quickly when Digger forced his forward from the back and the ball was deflected into the box and found an unmarked Alex to poke in what turned out to be the winner. The Ship had plenty of guilt-edged chances to make the last few minutes more comfortable - Adil lobbed just wide, Ollie air-shot in the 6 yard box and scuffed another from the edge of the box but the Ship withstood the late barrage of throw-ins to hold on for the 9th win on the trot and an impressive 17th win in 26 games for 2011. "Judgement January" looms after the break with 2 massive cup games and more crucial league games but if someone had offered Ollie 2nd in the league and 2 cup runs at Christmas -he'd have bitten your hand off. Some of the squad retired for Christmas drinks at the Famous 3 Kings to watch 4 different football matches at once and stuff themselves with cheap pub food deals. It's hoped the Ship can come back from the holiday break lean and mean - but that's frankly unlikely and the new figure-hugging kit will be truly tested.
