We knew it was coming. We were all worried it wasn't. After a long September spent creating chances but finding goals for us to be like a mythical creature nobody had actually seen, Thirsk finally found their shooting sticks. And not just goals. Proper goals. Team goals. The sort of goals we've been trying to create all season so far. Dreams do come true.

With regular coach Steve unavailable, Vice Captain Richard stepped into the role of player-coach for the day. Immediately christened "Coach Dick" by Jason, he inspired the troops from the outset and reorganised things at half-time with a reminder of everything we'd been working on.
His team talks generally went something like:

"Remember what we've been working on. Remember Steve!"

At least, that was the intention. Some of the younger members of the squad appeared more interested in fighting over half eaten packets of Maoams and Haribo left behind by players from the previous match than listening to their temporary coach's wisdom.

Thankfully, enough of the message got through.

Despite controlling large spells of the first half, it was Hartlepool who struck first with a sucker punch against the run of play. A familiar story for Thirsk 3s so far this season.

It was frustrating given the chances Thirsk had already created, while Jason's experimental role up front was only just beginning to yield results especially once he eventually realised he could cross the halfway line.

Thirsk heads did not go down and the response felt immediate.

Pressure from Adam and Fraser forced mistakes high up the pitch before a superb team move brought Thirsk level. Ben's pass released Adam down the right and, after a driving run, he delivered the perfect ball for Fraser to tap home. The equaliser was exactly the sort of hockey Steve had been teaching us this season. Text book.

The celebrations that followed suggested this wasn't just an equaliser. There were scenes of relief, joy and mild disbelief as well as a few squeals and yelps of happiness from Ben. Scenes usually reserved for cup winners. Anyone watching for the first time would have immediately guessed one thing: Thirsk 3s had finally scored their first goals of the season.
Half-time arrived with Thirsk full of confidence.
If the first half was A New Hope, the second half was Return of the Jedi.

And that Jedi was James.

Switfly in the second half he drove into the D and saw his initial effort blocked. Reacting quickest to the rebound, he flicked the loose ball into the net to put Thirsk ahead. Then, sensing the Force was strong with him, he burst into the circle again and calmly guided the ball through the keeper's legs to make it 3-1. He then nonchalantly subbed himself off. What a hero.

Naturally, because this is Thirsk 3s, nobody was allowed to relax.

Hartlepool pulled one back to make it 3-2 and set nerves jangling around the pitch.

Within what felt like minutes Jake restored the two-goal cushion with a brilliant finish, after a solo drive curling the ball across the face of goal and into the net to make it 4-2.

Again, Hartlepool refused to disappear and another breakaway goal suddenly made it 4-3.

What followed was a tense, end-to-end battle.
Adam S stepped up in midfield, driving forward whenever the opportunity arose, while Ewan and Jake seemed to collect every loose ball within a ten-mile radius. At the other end, as always all afternoon Will produced a series of excellent saves, including one remarkable stop that left the ball somehow frozen on the goal line.

Searching for the crucial fifth goal to finally put the game to bed, Chris thought he had found it with a near-post tap-in, only for the umpire's whistle to cut celebrations short.
Fortunately he got his redemption arc.
A short corner soon gave Thirsk another chance. James stopped the ball, Ewan slipped the ball right to Fraser. Fraser picked out Chris in the middle of the D, who controlled the ball, waited for the advancing goalkeeper and copied James from earlier, dragging the ball through the keeper's legs and into the net.

5-3. Job done.

During the remaining five minutes there was not a lot of significant action as the teams tired and the match drew to its conclusion, shouts could be heard from Jay and Richard, whose repeated cries of "Calm down!" suggested they were among the few people on the pitch attempting to remain calm.

The umpire's post-match verdict summed the afternoon up perfectly, warning Thirsk 3s that they appeared to have used up all their goals for the season. Time will tell.

Man of the Match
There was strong competition across the park, but with two excellent goals and a driving performance when Thirsk needed someone to take control, James was the deserved Man of the Match.

The Force was certainly strong with him.

Dick of the Day

In a rare occurrence, there was serious discussion after the game about whether there should be a Dick of the Day at all.
A five-goal performance, hard work all over the pitch and no truly catastrophic moments meant the club's highest dishonour was almost retired for the week.
Almost.
Richard's gravity-defying slip over a ball that wasn't even in play ensured the tradition lived on, although rumours persist that "No Dick This Week" was a genuine contender right up until the final whistle.
There was, however, a late challenge in the voting from Jason after he somehow managed to lock several Hartlepool players in the changing rooms after the match.
For a brief period, Hartlepool's post-match recovery session became an unscheduled remake of The Great Escape. It could be argued even though he avoided on field defensive duties today Jason was Defensive Player of the Match, given he was still successfully keeping opposition players out of the game long after the umpire's final whistle.
In the end, Richard's battle with an inanimate, stationary hockey ball narrowly secured the award.

Post-Match Talking Point
Despite the victory, one crucial matter remains unresolved.
Negotiations continue between Adam S and James regarding who will be the big spoon during the proposed celebratory sleepover. Sources suggest talks remain deadlocked, with neither side willing to back down.

Three points, five goals, and proof at last that Thirsk 3s goal scoring ability wasn't lost in a galaxy far, far away after all. ??