In conditions which neither side really had the quality or composure to deal with, it was inevitable that the first goal, when it came, would be both scrappy and decisive. Downing captain Tom Marsh’s close-range effort was not pretty, but it was enough to ensure that last year’s league champions maintained their 100% record and that Fitz lost theirs.

On the half hour, the visitors’ James Corcut hit his free-kick low and hard towards the goal and, after Fitz captain James Gillingham saved low to his right, the ball rebounded back into the danger zone, where Marsh reacted first to give his side a lead they did not lose.

The handful of spectators at Oxford Road were greeted by swirling winds intermittently accompanied by heavy rain on a truly horrific Saturday afternoon which decimated any chance of a high-quality game between two of the division’s pacesetters.

As Fitz captain James Gillingham said, “It was a scrappy game in conditions hardly conducive to good football. I’m disappointed but won’t over-analyse the performance. I didn’t feel Downing were that impressive and they will drop points. We’ll be challengers.”

Marsh had a rather different take on events. “We were good value for our win and far more threatening in the final third. A bit more composure it could easily have been 3 or 4”, he said. That it was not was symptomatic of the way the defences dealt with the conditions much more competently than the forwards.

Downing certainly adjusted more  quickly as their physicality going forward put the home side under pressure early on. Sam Isaacs’ pace threatened down the right as Fitz were not allowed to settle nor given the time on the ball required to play the short passing game in such conditions.

Chances were few and far between for both sides. Apart from a Dan Sellman goal correctly disallowed for offside, Downing were unable to make the most of the gaps that gradually appeared as the home team pushed more men forward – Fitz centre halves Tom Johnson and Mark Stettler particularly impressive.

Marsh too was dominant at the back as the absence of Fitz’ injured top-scorer Danny Kerrigan was strongly felt. The introduction of fresher Evans brightened up their play in the second half but the closest they came was ten minutes from the end when left back Dummet smashed a shot just wide of the left-hand post after one the few fluent passages of play the match produced.

In the end, Downing looked the more confident and assured team and it was this, rather than any expansive football, which won them the game. It is certainly important to have gained ground on their challengers, but they do not look unbeatable. Little suggests that it would be wrong to assume it is anyone’s league at this stage.