With the first battle only taking 90 minutes or so, we had time to re-play Stour Road.

Bevan offered to swap sides but, despite the fact that I had lost the first game quite heavily, I was sure that I now had the key to victory!

So, once again the Roundheads are digging ramparts around Royalist-held Norchester when the Cavaliers launch an attack to disrupt their work…

As before, the Royalist horse sweep in from the flank...

...whilst the Cavalier infantry threaten from the south.

Seeking an advantage on his left, the Royalist commander orders some of his horse to swap flanks...

…but this causes an almighty traffic jam that generally slows the Royalist advance.

Meanwhile, my Roundheads protect the flank of the infantry facing the Royalist force by sending forward the pike-only boys

They don't last long, so I have to commit the newly arrived puritan horse to the fight.

They see off the Royalist infantry battalia that saw off the pikemen, but then charge uncontrollable forward towards a battalia of commanded shot. Gulp!

Traffic jam on the Royalist left continues...

...but eventually sorts itself out.

The Roundheads digging the ramparts look on as the Royalist horse comes forward. Time to stop digging and use the picks and shovels for something more offensive!

Having done their job and beaten the enemy commanded shot as well, the puritan horse retreat to regroup

The infantry battalia on the left have taken advantage of their secure flanks to drive back the Royalist horse sweeping in from the east.

Overview of the battle so far

More Royalist horse (bottom left) need to be driven back.

With the line regrouped and reorganised, the flanks secure, it's time to advance forward again

But, before the centre and left can move forward, more Royalist horse attack the part-completed trenches on the right!

Where the rampart is not complete, the Royalist horse sweep the Roundhead diggers away!

But where the rampart is complete, the diggers refuse to be budged!

Even better, the Royalist horse that broke through pursue the fleeing diggers off the table. Byeeee!

The reorganised Roundhead line moves forward again

The first Royalist battalia encountered will soon give way.

Puritan horse have broken something Royalist...

…but I can’t remember what!

Another overview

Looks like some Royalist horse have rallied and are coming back into the fight

But this is really too little, too late!

Just about the last Royalist battalia, assaulted from the front and on the diagonal, is about to give way

A glorious victory for the Parliamentarians.

Another great game of For King & Parliament and, unusually, a win for me!

It’s now off to Plumleigh Common, where the Royalists will try a lightning raid on the Parliamentarian lines again, but this time the Roundheads are ready for them…