I warn you all who read this that the report was written a good month after the game due to computer problems. Seeing as though I have problems even compiling reports for work two days after a meeting, god in heaven help you.

My one abiding memory of this game was the shit state that the pitch was in. Awful. Westminster Park has never been a nominee for the Outstanding Drainage category at the British Institute of Architecture and Construction Awards, but this was shocking. Ankle deep mud. Pissing down with rain. And all this for a tense and testing top of the table away match.

The game was close in the extreme. The home side went a goal up when a hastily arranged offside trap between Painter and Melson was sprung, and the home attacker fired past the onrushing Green. The home line then started the verbals. Taunting the visitors, and in one rather unsavoury incident, inciting their own players to 'break the legs' of the lightening quick Johnson.

This only served to wind the yellow shirted ISA side up. The lack of a decent playing surface hindered the natural passing game of the lads, and they were struggling to get to grips with a lively Ship outfit. Then Johnson started to get going. Picking the ball up from a Mark Howell through ball, he checked back on the edge of the penalty box, before drilling the ball into the top corner of the home sides net. 1-1.

Within five minutes Johnson had put the visitors into the lead. He picked the ball up and ran at the defenders, skipped past them and slid the ball home for 2-1. There was just enough time before the break for Howell to head tamely wide with the goal at his mercy from a Kevin Thomas cross. Could and should have done better.

The second half was a disjointed affair not helped by the rain and wind, with neither side dominating. The Ship went close from a header, and Neil Howell (on for brother Mark) was inches away from a Johnson cross.

With five minutes left an innocuous backpass to James Green stuck in the mud and allowed the forward to pounce. Green was left with no option but to upend the attacker. Penalty. The home line erupted. The number 10 stepped up...and fired wide. The visitors were saved by the bell. Not long after the final whistle sounded. A 2-1 win.

This was not the most impressive of wins, but the amount of effort and commitment shown by the players was enough to deserve the win. To go away and win 2-1 at a title challenger is the way to win trophies. The future could hold any outcome, but this may just prove to be a VERY important win indeed.