MEN'S 1S FINALLY SCORE MORE THAN THEM

After a more promising performance the week before against Ashford BOE welcomed Folkestone to College Meadow this past Saturday. BOE have been scoring buckets of goals but unfortunately we've been conceeding even more so the team's high scoring antics needed turning into victories.

After a solid high intensity warm up, Head Coach Sam Djavit urged us in the huddle to start by controlling it around the back and then hit them with a high intensity attack using our quick movement up top. BOE did exactly that, creating a number of clear chances in the first few minutes.

After 15 minutes The Club went 1-0 up with a great individual finish from James Logan. However, due to a lapse of concentration in defence Folkestone scored shortly after with their first real attack of the game. Poor marking and suspect tackling in our circle being bthe major culprit.

Nonetheless, the perfect immeadiate response was made by BOE, with a great attack on the right hand side resulting in Ryan Wallace scoring from the restart.Unfortunately, once again we conceded this lead to a scrappy short corner at the end of the first half. Half time 2-2.

At the start of the second half a change at the back was made to include U16 youngster Jake Owen at left half. In what will undoubtably be a very succesful hockey career at BOE and beyond he had his first real "moment" with the 1st team.

Gaining the ball at left half he attacked his side of the pitch from just over our 25. He saw fit to beat a number of their players in the middle before distributing cleverly. With the only thought of "getting ahead" ringing in his ears he continued his run into the D. He received it 6 yards out, waited for the GK to commit and cooly slotted it away bottom right of the goal. It was a finish well beyond his years and we hope it was something he was very proud of as were all the team at that point... 3-2 to BOE.

The game then went through a somewhat lethargic period with not too much happening either side as a territorial battle ensued. But unlike previous weeks the club were playing a lot tighter and not getting so stretched or caught on the break. But despite this diligence a very poor tackle outside the D saw the umpire award a p-flick to Folkestone with 10 minutes to go. They scored. And there was a strong case of de ja vu occurring yet again as BOE seemed destined to throw away another leading position.

The team focused and urged each other to not panic. This fortitude paid dividends as the 'Hockey Gods' looking down treated us favourably and we were awarded a penalty corner with 2 minutes to go. In what was probably the 'slickest' penalty corner routine of all time....Dave Lawrence gained the ball from a rebound and slotted the winner bottom right. (Slickest in the loosest sense of the word but we don't care how they go in!!)

The final whistle was blown shortly after and we thankfully held on for a 4-3 win. It was a good result which we can build confidence from. A lot of the teams in our league our very similar in standard with games being decided by the odd goal here and there. So it is important to pick up and grind out wins whenever we can. Saturday was perhaps not our most attacking or attractive performance but it was certainly our most professional and structured performance and ultimately that saw us over the line for a much needed victory.

Tom Archer(1st XI Captain)

Motm Sam Djavit
Dotd Jon Parry