The undoubted highlight of the win was a great piece of invention from Ean Irwin when he pulled off an incredibly difficult backwards running in shot, with some impressive air time, he held off taking the more conventional running in shot in mid air in order to avoid a block attempt before dispatching the ball behind him and into the korf to the stunned cheering of the Nomads crowd.

It was a piece of skill that though difficult to describe in words will live long in the memory of those who saw it.

The game started well for Nomads as Sytze, Amy and Alex eased the reds into a 3-0 lead before Invicta replied with two of their own to bring it to 3-2.

Bijker then extended the lead to 4-2 and Invicta missed a penalty.

Joe Olds and Ana Osbourne then opened their accounts with long shots and Sytze added two more of his own ever reliable long shots as he headed for a final tally of 8 goals and the game was poised at 9-4 when Irwin lit up the game with his invention, skill and jumping ability.

Olds notched another from long and a more conventional running in shot, Bijker, Kamphuis and Irwin added to the tally and Alex Bell put the reds comfortably ahead at half time with a 17-7 lead.

With the game all but won the second half was slow to get going, Invicta struck twice before Amy Cole shot with great technical grace from her favoured mid-long distance to open the reds second hald scoring.

Rebekah Humphries then ensured that every starting player scored with a fine running in shot.

Irwin and Bijker took the score to 21-9 and shortly after Invicta hit double figures themselves, coach Green made the first of three?substitutions, replacing Humphries with Andrea Ellis. Invicta closed the deficit with two pens and one from open play either side of Bijkers eighth goal of the game.

Olds was replaced by Simon Cole, like Ellis gaining some first team game time before their full appearances in the later second team game.

Bell then took a penalty to take his tally to three and Irwin scored the final Nomads goal of the game from long distance.

There was still time for a late playing appearance for Steve Green and two more Invicta goals as they fought to keep the score respectable.

So a 24-15 win for Nomads and the invention of a new shot from Irwin meant a very happy days work for the Nomads squad.

Next week sees Nomads face old rivals Mitcham at Whitgift in Croydon with a 7:20pm throw off.

Team: Sytze Bijker (8) Ean Irwin (4) Alex Bell (3) Joe Olds (4) Ana Osbourne (1) Amy Cole (2) Tessa Kamphuis (1) Rebekah Humphries (1) Subs Used: Andrea Ellis, Simon Cole, Steve Green.

Nomads II 17 Croydon I 16

Nomads 2 secured a narrow win over Croydon 1 thanks to a confident second half comeback.

The game started well for the Reds, Steve Green chalked up two quick goals and Simon Cole scored from long to open up a 3-0 lead.

Croydon then got on the scoresheet themselves for 3-1 but Terry Forde and Green added to the Nomads total and made it 5-1.

Croydon then got into their groove, hitting four without reply to level the scores, twice from open play and one each from a free pass and a penalty.

Simon Cole then made his mark on the game with two goals, the runner being the pick of the two but Croydon again levelled up the tie with a long shot and a runner.

Cole continued his purple patch to give Nomads an 8-7 lead but Croydon bounced back to take the lead 8-9. Helen ghosted past her player to equalise again with a runner but Croydon took the half time initiative with a penalty.

Starting the half a goal behind, things got worse for the reds as despite two more goals from Forde who was putting in an industrious performance, winning loose balls and contributing goals, Croydon stretched out a 15-11 lead.

However indiscipline soon cost them as a series of fouls gave Nomads a way back into the game, Brian Carswell cooly notched up two penalties and Steve Green showed his technical consistency converting two free passes to level the score at 15-15.

Croydon then found the Korf to regain the lead but again, conceding a free pass allowed the reds the chance to level up, this time Simon Cole scored.

At 16-16 Croydon would have good reason to be regretting the free passes they missed in the second half as the game swung on the Nomads players ability to despatch their set pieces.

The game ended with drama as a Croydon player went down injured in the process of scoring what proved to be the winner under the post. The referee however saw no foul and despite a late rally, Croydon could not level the scores again.

The game was dominated statistically by the boys goalscoring on both sides but strong games from girls allowed it to happen and Maral, Kate and Andrea (victorious again in the battle of the Ellis household!) deserve great credit for reducing the Croydon girls impact on the scoresheet.

The win moves Nomads II up to second place in the London Regional League.

Team Steven Green (5) Terry Forde (4) Simon Cole (4) Brian Carswell (3) Helen Carswell (1) Maral Bennink, Kate Hotton, Andrea Ellis