CAPTAIN COOKE DISCOVERS NEW ROUTE TO SUCCESS

Holcombe Men's 5As 1 BEHC Dynamos 7

It might have been, as Joe Cocker once put it, "With a little help from my friends", but make no mistake - this incarnation of the Dynamos will do far more than just "get by" if they can field the core of this team every week in the coming season.  New captain and team manager Andy Cooke has picked up where previous incumbent Chris Brown left off, putting out a talented team, setting it up on-field and then letting the players express themselves.

In the first half in particular the team played some sparkling hockey and never looked back once Buss "the elder" had put the visitors ahead with a superb solo effort early on.  Guesting Highwaymen Robinson and Chana were amongst the goals too, the latter showing how deadly he can be from three foot out with the keeper already beaten.  Hats off too to octogenarian Tony D'Cruz, a man who has actually been playing through eight decades of hockey, and who was responsible for a delightful assist in the D on Saturday, playing the ball inside to his left for a simple tap-in by a team-mate.

Central defender Southgate showed just why he won the player-of-the-year award last season with yet another unselfish, hard-working display in the back four, where he was ably assisted by Buss "the younger" on the right.  Keeper Conway rounded off another busy Saturday with an accomplished display, only being beaten once during 140 minutes of action by a rather fortunate short-corner effort by Holcombe, which was probably the only way he was ever going to let one in all day.

Well done to the players who doubled up, and well played the Dynamos, who on this showing look far more talented than a mere "development team" at Kent Open Division 2 level. The 7-1 scoreline was no fluke - it was an accurate reflection of an hour of dominant hockey by the visitors against a promoted team playing in Division 1 this coming season.