This was the game that so nearly wasn’t. The gale force winds and horizontal rain of Storm Bert were leaving a trail of destruction across an increasingly less leafy Surrey. The overnight “will they, won’t they” conundrum was settled by the first of many crucial and spot-on decisions to be made by Head Coach Mayers. The game would go-ahead and two excited teams headed to Fortress Tillingbourne for the local derby everyone was craving.

It was clear that something had changed in the Hawks. Undaunted by the strong headwind, the team took their positions early to await the opposition, exuding the calm reassurance personified by their manager.

It was the Wolverines who started the fastest, using the wind to their advantage and quicker to the ball. Carving out a flurry of early chances they were rewarded with an early goal that needed a crisp finish to beat Micah’s brave attempt to keep it out.

But the Hawks are now a different team, a band of brothers willing to stand shoulder to shoulder and confront the elements. Harry was the catalyst, starting the press and his teammates needed no further invitation to back him up. Pouncing on a loose ball, Harry surged down the right flank, crossed to Rory, whose no-look flick released Felix to pounce. The net billowed. The home team was on the board. Confidence soared like, well, a Hawk.

Hungry to press home the advantage, everyone was now in synch. Not an inch was given as Rian and Arjun were dominating their battles at the back, Stanley was releasing his forwards with penetrating vision down the left, and Felix with the cutest of passes returned the favour to set Rory free, dipping his shoulder to send the keeper to one corner while calmly slotting the ball in the other.

But this was a battle for supremacy and the Wolverines were not easily deterred. A quick counter-attack and the game was level at the end of the first quarter.

The break allowed Head Coach Mayers to apply some subtle positioning tweaks, witnessed from the sideline enigmatically painting pictures for his disciples to follow. And boy did they follow; undoubtedly the Hawks’ best quarter in their short history. All over the park everyone stood up to be counted, winning their personal battles, moving into space, passing and moving, looking forward at every opportunity.

The hard work started from the defence with newly introduced Morty rampaging down the right flank and providing attackers Felix and Rory the ‘freedom of Tillingbourne’ to put the Hawks back in front.

Equally crucial was the glovework from Arjun, defying physics to keep out not one but two almost certain goals; just as important as any of the spectacularly crafted goals on show. To those on the sidelines it evoked memories of Banks, but Arjun’s ‘You shall not pass’ attitude meant the Hawks were starting to dominate both areas.

The second half put the wind in the backs of the Hawks, but the Wolverines were far from done. It was tight, cagey affair, every mini-battle a story in its own right. On several occasions the whole team was called into some last ditch defending, led by Pete, once making three tackles in the same move and preventing an almost inevitable goal.

Nothing typified the Hawks’ spirit more than Micah’s brave defence, snuffing out several dangerous breaks. All this having earlier blocked a shot with his face to keep the opposition at bay. It left a mud-splattered ‘tattoo’ across his face but the white-teeth-grin shone through the gloom each time he repelled wave after wave of Wolverine attack down their dangerous right channel. Stanley was again a key outlet on the counter-attack and a goal apiece, including another Lineker-like finish from Felix, kept the Hawks ahead as they progressed into the fourth quarter.

After succumbing in the final stages in previous matches, there was nervousness in the stands. But on the pitch, there was no doubt. Again, Head Coach Mayers demonstrated a tactical masterclass. Rian and Pete were unleashed to maraud through the midfield, combining to set off a wave of attacks through Arjun and Morty down both flanks.

A thunderbolt from Rian was the reward following a whole team move, giving the Hawks some daylight on the scoreboard and the confidence started to flow. Chances came thicker and faster than the rain, only kept out by some brave goalkeeping from the Wolverine stopper.

But the crowd wanted more. Up stepped ‘Ronaldinho’ Morty, placing the ball down deliberately at a corner, spotting the narrowest of gaps, and curling a sumptuous effort inside the front post past a bamboozled defence. One for the ages!

Nobody wanted the final whistle with the free-flowing tiki taka on show, but the elation both on and off the pitch said it all. A true team performance of skill and solidarity, making it almost impossible to select the player of the match.

Felix democratically took the honour, recognised for his brace and assist, but in his post-match interviews was overheard to be dedicating the award to his teammates while acknowledging the inspiration and tactical insight of Mayers who has masterminded an epic turnaround in the team’s fortunes. As a new manager takes the helm to turnaround the fortunes of Man Utd, there will be people in the Old Trafford board room wondering if they have the right man...!