The RICS put out an experienced team (they have a squad that plays every second Wednesday) whilst AR’s scratch team were playing their first game of the season and were still reeling from the late withdrawal of one of their centre forwards on the basis that he was too busy!

Sensing easy prey a well drilled RICS team went for the throat “early doors” as experienced defender Laurence Edwards marshalled AR’s defence. After weathering some concerted pressure and with the wind against them, AR found their shape (a sort of star fish formation) and their enthusiasm to chase lost causes, led to a RICS defender, under pressure from Comet’s Keith Wilson pushing the ball past his own keeper for an opening own goal.

With AR finding their feet the RICS were soon 2 down as David Comb stormed through with no little skill that took him past the RICS defence and their keeper. In an effort to hold on to their spoils up to half time, wingers Kevin Watson and Dominic Rodbourne were replaced by Paul Wilkinson and Focus’ Danny McAree, however, the RICS were still in the game and threw the “kitchen sink” at AR at the start of the second half and with three quick goals they stormed back to take a 3-2 lead - a complete reversal of fortunes.

But as was the case in the bear market of the 1990’s, AR didn’t wait for the fat lady to sing following an injury to Tom Dymond who was replaced by Chase’s “Mr Fixit”, Jason Holden, tactical substitutions saw the reintroduction of Rodbourne and Watson, who with effectively his first touch brought the teams level 3-3!

As the match entered a pivotal stage, AR’s goal keeper, Wilkinson Williams’ David Marsden, Strutt and Parker’s Nick Clark and Rob Shrimplin dealt comfortably with the RICS’s attacks and with Stephen Smarts’, Rob Stubbings providing a useful outlet on the left, defence was quickly being turned into attack and two quick goals from David Comb completed a well deserved hat trick for AR to go 5-3 up.

As the RICS heads dropped, they lost their composure and AR spurned opportunities on the counter attack to put the game beyond doubt with even Man of the Match Comb missing a penalty after Keith Wilson was scythed down by an RICS defender who by now had the turning circle of an oil tanker.

The final few minutes were potentially as explosive as a chain smoker in a fireworks factory with tackles flying in but the game was put beyond doubt into injury time as Wilkinson Williams “Marathon Man” Paul Simpson dispossessed a RICS defender in his own box and around the keeper to score (in his opinion) the best goal of the game.

Overall, a very satisfactory result for AR, with the potential to build open this result with a game against the SAS in due course.

If you are interested in getting involved in playing for or against the AR team please contact, Jason Holden, Chase & Partners, 020 7389 9494, jason.holden@chaseandpartners.co.uk