The 1st XI stayed top of Premier 2 with a gritty 3-2 win over Tulse Hill where our skill on counter-attacks, goals from Jay Harman, Paddy Harman and Louis Holmes, and some good goalkeeping, ensured we did enough to secure the three points. The 2nd XI went down 0-2 at Woking, the 3rd XI 1-4 at home to Addiscombe and the Ladies lost 1-2 to Croydon. The Hamstrings dropped their first points of the season in a 3-3 draw at Richmond.
On a crisp sunny afternoon, the Ladies team went out all guns blazing from the whistle, to try and claw back some points in the league and achieve that sought-after win. We had a strong team and it was good to have Heather back in our front line after her absence as a result of an early-season injury.
During the first 15 minutes or so we were determined and composed with plenty of dominant play, putting the pressure on Croydon. Tosh and May had a great game on the right side of the pitch, with May making many of her classic speedy runs and strong passes into the D. Our goal came from converting one of these passes, with Nikki picking up the cross and striking towards the goal. Georgie was in a superb position on the left post and managed to pounce on the rebound to slip the ball past the keeper – a great boost for the team! Towards the end of the first half, we lost our focus and composure and allowed Croydon to score two goals, bringing the score-line to 1-2 at halftime. Michelle prevented any further damage to the score-line, by almost doing the splits and making some great saves.
During the stern halftime team talk, we regrouped and lifted our heads up for the second half. We pressed and persisted, placing pressure on the opposition and keeping the ball in Croydon’s half for the majority of the remaining time. Jax and Helen has some great play between them on the left side of the pitch with short strong passes. We had several chances and short corners, but unfortunately we were unable to convert and, disappointingly, the scoreline remained the same at the final whistle. Special mention must also go to the OC’s men’s team supporting us on the sidelines, providing a boost and encouraging us to keep fighting til the end. We’ll take this spirit into the next game – bring it on!
3rd XI 1-4 Addiscombe
Let’s start by saying Addiscombe were good for their win, looking dangerous in attack if agricultural in some of their defensive tackling. They took their chances well – their fourth goal, a reverse-stick strike from the top of the D, would not have been out of place in the 1st XI game earlier. Well done to them.
Enough of the game. Let’s turn to Ben, Addiscombe’s delightful No. 93 – the name and number might be worth noting for future opponents who prefer a pleasant afternoon rather than one in the company of a spoilt brat with few social graces. Ben is clearly a good hockey player, reading the game well, quick on the break and a solid tackler. He was better than this level, but a couple of minutes after first experiencing him it is clear why he will never play at a higher level. Umpires. If he played in a game with any appointed umpire he would do well to make it to half time.
He loudly moaned and snarled at every decision, told opponents to “**** off” almost as often as he spat – he should see a doctor about that as no ordinary human should produce so much phlegm that it needs spitting out onto the pitch every few second – and when not spitting was reproducing that lovely footballing habit clearing his nose by covering one nostril and blowing mucas out of the other one loudly and messily.
Why single him out? Because he pretty much ruined a good game single handedly and made his whole club look bad when in fact they were anything but. When finally called over after a face-to-face showdown with Bentsy, he just whined repeatedly “what have I done?”. Bentsy apologised. Ben just carried on moaning. He has probably never apologised for anything in his life.
What you do, Ben dearest, is spoil the afternoon for other people and drag everyone down to your level and cause tempers to boil when without you they wouldn’t. You, Ben, typify why hockey struggles for players and especially umpires. The one good thing about Ben is that we only get to share the joy he brings twice a season. For that, we should be grateful.