Turning once again to my old friend Collins English Dictionary, I see that `miracle` is defined as `a word usually used to describe any beneficial event that is physically impossible or impossible to confirm.`   Well I can exclusively reveal that one, if not two, have happened and  been confirmed.  A bit like London buses coming along in pairs.

The first one concerns perennial strugglers Stoke Gabriel, recently amalgamated with Torbay Police and now known as Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police FC.   The coming together has so far produced a little more encouragement for the Railwaymen of Stoke and things exploded into life on Saturday when SG&TPFC recorded the first victory since their amalgamation with a resounding 3-2 win over Sidmouth Town in the South West Peninsula Premier League East.   Details are sketchy but it seems that our minnow-esque battlers performed doggedly to lift themselves up to 17th spot in the league table and consign Sidmouth to bottom place.   Maybe this is a pivotal moment, a miracle even, or one that might see their hopes fade gently away? - time will tell.

The second concerns Southampton and their trip to Newcastle where another battling performance secured a 2-2 draw with the miracle appearing like an apparition from beyond the unknown.   No, not so much the calm assurance that saw James Ward Prowse slot home the 96th minute penalty or indeed the fact that the Saints had pretty much outplayed their opponents for most of the game.   No, the true nature of the miracle was the awarding of the penalty by VAR !   Something that has never happened to the Saints in the entire history of VARness.   The divine providence handed down from Stockley Park was most welcome.

In other news, my neighbour`s Gillingham were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat away at Shrewsbury with the game ending in bizarre controversy after Gills` Daniel Phillips was sent  off along with Shrews` David Davis, both of whom having received second yellow cards following a confrontation.  Gills` assistant manager Paul Raynor was  left on the floor after a coming together with Shrews` substitute goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne on the touchline which resulted in both of them being sent off as well to make four dismissals in all.   It`s perhaps a miracle that Gills` rotund manager Steve Evans kept his composure but he was confident that the FA will clear his right-hand man of any wrongdoing when they see the footage.  Not so much the conclusion of a football match, more an over enthusiastic skirmish.

Lastly, Truro City entertained Hartley Wintney (a small village between Reading and Aldershot) but the game ended scoreless at 0-0, whilst Maidstone United maintained their unbeaten run with a `scrappy` 1-0 win at home to Billericay Town.

The international break is now with us - an event that will not trouble most of the teams I follow - but one which will see eight Saints players depart for international duty.  When they return in two weeks time, West Ham will be the visitors to St. Mary`s followed by a trip to the Etihad to play Manchester City away.   If ever another miracle or two were needed but after this weekend miracles are something I might just begin to believe in.