This match was likely to be the last match that the Icarus Veterans would play at Uxbridge. As if to acknowledge that fact, the weather was beautiful; sunny, but not much wind. The pitch, however, reflected the reduced care and maintenance that had recently been bestowed on it. The once plush grass was long and weed-infested, the lines had not been remarked for many weeks and weights had to be found to hold down nets that used to be secured by the obligatory pegs. However, the old park was good enough for one more farewell and it was only fitting that the 2 oldest adversaries should honour her with an equally fitting game.

Icarus vs Crusaders has always been the contest to win. Having ridden a wave of success this season, Icarus was keen to see the season out with a final win. At 10.30am, the game kicked off. It was immediately clear that Crusaders had undergone a transformation from previous encounters. They were well organised, fit, very skilful and set out to exploit any weakness. Whilst Icarus rallied to absorb this early pressure, they too had a couple of tricks up their sleeves and the dominating presence of Pullen, coupled with the lightning speed of Coleman, meant that breakaways were going to be a threat to the Crusaders defence.

Early disaster for Icarus nearly ensued when the keeper, Neil Smith, found out that the park could exact a heavy price for being neglected. His pass to a defender was slowed down by the weeds and ended at the feet of a very surprised Crusaders attacker, just at the edge of the box, who couldn't guide the ball into an open goal. With that warning taken to mind, Icarus continued to weather the pressure of strong Crusaders play, with Fox and Hays collecting and passing the ball strongly and confidently in mid-field. The back 4 of Stafford, Mark Farrell, Clayton and Kev Farrell, were keeping very tricky opponents at bay. A corner for Icarus resulted in a melee of attempted clearance and rebounds in the Crusaders box, which was finally ended when Pete Beer struck the ball through a wall of bodies and into the goal.

Not long after that, Crusaders returned the compliment with a well-taken header that levelled the scores. With time ticking away in the first half, both teams pressed hard, looking for the extra goal to take into the changing rooms at half-time. With barely 2 minutes to go, Coleman broke away with the ball and, after retaining the ball from a fairly hefty challenge, outpaced the pursuing defenders to slot it into the net.

At halftime, Tony Clayton introduced Jeff Butler and Mike Bowditch into the fray. This took Icarus a few minutes to re-adjust but it was soon business as normal. A couple of chances at the Crusaders goal went begging but, equally, Crusaders squandered a couple of near-certain chances, one coming off the post which, in any other day, would have found the back of the net.

The pace was relentless and legs were beginning to tire. On the hour mark, Roughsedge was forced to come off and was replaced by Swann. This necessitated another re-shuffle and the disruption allowed Crusaders to re-establish better control of mid-field for a while, until Coleman and Fox wrenched it back. Crusaders had scored from a header for their first goal and so it was from 2 set pieces that they achieved numbers 2 and 3. Icarus, far from acting as a team that were beat, piled on the pressure to recover the situation but it was too late.

A competitive, magnificent game played in the best of spirits. Crusaders deserved their win but the never-say-die attitude of Icarus meant that each player could hold their heads high. Bring on next season.