You could have been forgiven if you thought I was playing rugby union in the FA Cup clash at Eastbourne Borough last Saturday.

Well, especially in the first half.

I just couldn’t stop kicking the ball out of play and I wasn’t trying to do it.

It was as though I was playing rugby and kicking for touch! I must have been watching too much of the World Cup!

My efforts may have been ideal for those who kick an oval ball for a living, but not when it comes to us using a round ball.

To be honest, I was having an absolute stinker – nothing was going right for me, so I knew I needed to do something about it when it got to half-time.

And I did – I changed my boots!

You see, the ground was so hard that I used my moulded boots in the first half – I changed into my normal pair during the break.

And the move worked ... I played a bit better!

But while the game had a happy ending for us as a team, Raggs ensured my nightmare trip to Sussex lasted well after the final whistle had blown.

He scored the dramatic late winner after I had just missed getting my head to Devs’ corner and my defensive partner did his best to constantly remind me he’d scored.

Raggs’ goal was his second of the season in all competitions and that meant he is now level with me.

We have a little wager between the defensive line as to who will score the most goals and Raggs made a point of reminding me of that fact.

But he also had a little dig because he reckons I’ve only scored one as Devs really scored the other goal that was credited to me.

He loved stirring the pot, and Devs is still adamant he got it too!

I’m guessing I need to get my finger out and put one in the back of the net myself – I wonder if the big man will pass it to me?

Until next week.

COYW!!