Mill Hill 0 – Milton Keynes 8 Mill Hill started the second half of the season in a similar manner to the first. Yes the side they were up against are sure to finish as champions, and yes the deficit was almost half that of the away fixture but the truth is that Mill Hill, without top scorer Ryan Sclanders were disjointed and never tested the visitor’s defence.

Nevertheless there were positives to be gleaned. Ed Spencer put in some huge tackles at the back, while Ian Namey showed impeccable timing to deal with the threat from MK’s tricky and pacey right winger. Nick Warr showed typical aggression and Craig “I run on Christmas Day” McIntyre displayed his usual industriousness.

It was Marc Scutt, deputising in goal, who truly stood out, however. Not only did the mechanic, fresh from a morning at work, pull some factastic saves from his toolbox, but he also provided a valet service, cleaning up when the ball dropped at the feet of the marauding MK forwards. Two of the goals he did concede were flicks. The second after Dan Stockhill showed why South Africa are not a footballing nation.

With Roger Casper still embroiled in his Christmas binge, Apay Oway-Obanga securing a ceasefire in Gaza and Sclanders rebooting his machine, Mill Hill were slightly under strength but they will need to show a lot more to escape the relegation dogfight