MAGIC MIKE STRIPS CANTERBURY DOWN TO SIZE

For the second day in a row the Meadow was bathed in sun shine. A practically balmy summers day greeted the two sides and a top draw Cup tie was in the offing.

With a couple of the troops away on Stag duties sending off the Gaffer on the Costa del Margate for the weekend, the BE squad would be tested in new ways. Having come through Saturday’s examination with a roaring come back inspired by ‘New Man’ Laxman Karan, BE had the stern task of Canterbury popping by to wrestle the Cup from their hands.

The Kent Powerhouse of Hockey were hopeful of knocking the 2 x Champions out, but it was not to be. What followed was a dominant, team performance befitting the defending champions. Control, work rate, team work and discipline were paramount as the BE juggernaut kept on rolling.

The early exchanges were very much a red ball fest. High tempo possession was the order of the day and BE were building up some early steam. The boys had bounced back from 2-0 down on Saturday to win 3-2 and it looked like the momentum was being carried forwards. Crash ball into the D saw an early corner come and go, but it was the 2nd corner of the day that raised the excitement. As the ball left Laxman's stick the crowd was cheering for 1-0 as a bulging net looked a certainty only for the CHC keeper to get both feet off the floor and pluck it from the top corner, 0-0. 15 gone.

Again it was the man of the moment Laxman that would release his inner awesome and skill up 3 lads down the right, his pin point cross located Mike Lawrence and the forward swivelled and rifled a reverse into the upper 90........1-0, CHC bubble burst.

The half time whistle would come with BEHC still on top and maintaining total control of the game. They would seamlessly slip into the same routine straight after the break with the sun playing as much of a part as anyone to slow them down. A snap tackle in the centre of the park released the rejuvenated Dave Lawrence who beat one, beat 2, beat 3.......rounded the keeper to the right and then, from no more than an inch off the baseline, found the only pocket of space between keeper and post with a sniper like shot to find the back board. Pure genius from the younger Lawrence and a simply sublime goal to grace the Sunday sun.

CHC would continue to push but BEHC kept coming forwards in waves. Some lovely inter play saw Michael Lawrence have 3 great opportunities, firstly, a reverse that clattered the outside of the post before almost beheading a pigeon on the fence, then he was through on the right hand side but located the side board and then a well worked short corner would see the keeper make another exceptional save. The warm up for the big mans finale......

And so it was, the final rights were served. As the play was broken down in midfield, a smart quick free hit located Magic Mike, having beaten 1 player, he rounded the GK and with consummate ease, he would bury a trade mark reverse into the goal. 3-0, good evening to one an all. Mic (sic) Drop. Dare I say that the sharpness of the injury hit forward looked almost to be back.

What a day, what a weekend and what a performance. Every one was magnificent, tireless running from Speller and Burnham, epic distribution form Stafford and MJ. Lovely half breaks from the ever improving Luke Bowman, Danyon and some silky pazazz from the international man of mystery, Tunc.......The forward flow and inter play was majestic as the Lawrences, Karan and the wiry Allen all looked sharp as well as the good Dr Slack who defied age and logic to put in two outstanding displays over the weekend. Morri and Josh were as sound as a pound in the middle and the shut out from JC was as classy as San Diego was once before.

5 wins on the bounce for the lads, finding form at just the right time. Yeeee ha......

Game on.