Well a long away trip down to Selsey in the pouring rain was eventually worth it. Driving down with my lights on and windscreen wipers going full belt I was thinking it has to be off, checking the phone every few minutes to see if there was a text from Bert. Arriving at the pitch I was sure i'd seen a camp site on it in the past, it was definitely not the best pitch we've played on. 

  
After eventually finding the changing rooms! Perhaps some signs might be an idea i.e. dressing rooms, football changing rooms would of been nice, perhaps no one can read in good old Hunston! Then having to get changed in the corridor due to the cupboard of a dressing room meant the focus was slowly wavering away from footy, I must admit the chat was 5 or 6 goals and perhaps with the wind I could get on the goal sheet! Little did we know!!! 

Then the team talk....A good team talk in the Hunston away team dressing room/cupboard from Bert to the sound of its wet, windy, but lets not come all this way for nothing and your unbeaten and the best , got us thinking good shout .Then Obby pitching in with last weeks performance saying all week he has had sleepless nights thinking about Hartfield, not sure about the rest of us but when Obby speaks I listen, he is the guru, the yoda of football . We were up, we were ready.

As we came out of the cupboard jumping over puddles, the conditions finally hit home....Windy isn't the word, more like a hurricane! Now Hunston Community FC sounds like a hostel or young offenders home, first impressions were, no problem, CFC will take you to the cleaners, only half a dozen of them warmed up and the others were walking about in hoodies which made me think about the phone I left in the changing rooms!  Plus seeing the dog shit in the goal mouth led me to believe today was going to be one of those "try and keep warm days" for a goalie.

Luckily in the warm up I had Malc Fisher hitting the ball full belt at me from the edge of the area and only just making it to me ! Was that Malc's new free kick i thought or just the conditions!?!

As soon as we Kicked-Off out of nowhere we were on the back foot, it was like playing with a beach ball. In the first 10 mins I had a one on one and balls were flying the length of the pitch. 

As we were constantly running backwards Bert started howling from the touchline, due to the 70mph gale and the streaming rain, communication was at a minimum! Bert was screaming orders all over the pitch but due to the wind (Honest) no one seemed to hear! Don't worry Bert, I have the same problem in goal (every week)!! The game really was kick and run, we tried to play football but the pitch started to beat our passing game and the conditions led to mistakes, it was really a hard fought battle. 

We didn't really create anything in the first half, not for trying, but every time Ben was beating men for fun with pace that makes Usain Bolt look slow, nothing was going his way. Crosses were bending back behind him and the pitch was popping the ball everywhere. Hunston were slowly finding ways through and had a couple of shots and a good free kick but we stood firm. 

Now Dan! I have played a few games with Dan and unfortunately this was not his best performance! Tracking back has never been his strong point and today was no exception, added to the fact he is predominately left footed, playing at right back was going to be 'emotional' plus he had a nippy quick winger to annoy him, it was only a matter of time I thought before the red mist descended, as mild mannered Dan does have a temper on him!!!!!! I must say though, his free kick which was 60-70 yards out and just missed the top corner was probably one of the best I've seen .

It was not a good day all round for the White household as White Senior 'John' must of run a marathon in the neighbouring field as every pass blew off the pitch and ran for another 200 yards (how many times did he run to get the ball)?! 

A quick mention for the ref who I thought was very Kemp Town Brighton! But complimented me on my game (hold on, perhaps that little black book now has my number in it. Whoops! 

At half time we huddled behind the trees for a Bert pick me up, everyone was all ears until someone dropped their guts and then the concentration wavered with everyone looking at each other thinking was that you? 

In the second half we started strong with Will showing fight which was needed on the day, he seemed to be all over the pitch plus I have never seen him that near my goal!

Obby, as always, was reading the game two steps in front of everyone else. As the keeper I have the time to watch the runs and movement more than most and I can honestly say Obby was reading the game superbly. 

Shorty, was as ever like a brick wall at the back, never thinking twice about putting himself on the line and never letting his man out of his pocket. Gardo continued to clear the line, winning everything down the left and had a great game. Our midfield could not get into the game due to the conditions but all played well. At this point half way into the second half I thought we were getting on top, so I had time to check out the touchline, Mrs Ivey looked very lovely in her winter coat number but a bit cold! Perhaps some CFC team Pom Poms could be in order for next week to keep warm. 

Then Sam's chance! From what I could see it was about a metre out with an open goal, sure Sam would agree! Then Sam decided to take a touch, another touch, then another touch, then a fade and duffed it at the keeper who seemed to be trying to get out of the way. So still 0-0. 

Time came for a few subs, on came dynamo Jody, straight away i heard a great shout from Mr Jody, different gravy . "Do you want this Cuckfield, come on!!", then put in a tackle Mr Vinne Jones would be happy with. We then bought on the goal machine Noles and I thought here we go, into the next round with ease, however the game finished 0-0. 

Into ET, it was a stalemate first half until the Hunston striker broke through and as all good strikers do took an extra second to pick his spot and i was left flapping. 1-0 down. Then the significant moment which changed everything, a 50-50 ball between Shorty and the Hunston striker somehow left the striker with claret running all over him! As Shorty turned round, hands in air, as though nothing had happened I had to laugh, it wasn't long before he realised the bleeding wouldn't stop and seemed to run off, to A&E I pressume, this was very timely as from then on Hunston had nothing up front and became less of a threat. 

We started the second half of ET and got into the game more with a few shots on target but nothing special, then we equalised, I must admit at this time I was drying my gloves off and having a drink and only looked up when a loud shout went up, i'm sure it was a Platini type curler in the top corner so sorry, no idea who scored it or what happened but well done!! It was 1-1 . Final whistle went and we were on Pens.

As a keeper its a win, win situation, if I let 5 in what could I do! If I save one its the nuts. Safe to say our pen takers Jody, George and Ben held their nerve and very coolly slotted home, I thankfully saved one and it was up to the goal machine Noles to casually slot home the winner.

Winners 4-1 on pens.

A good end and CFC are still unbeaten and in the hat for the next round.