A must win '6 pointer' against Staines faced the squad this Saturday after a poor performance against Bournemouth the week before had put them back into the fringes of the relegation mix. After a rallying call from the Performance Director Edd Thorogood and without their talismanic Captain and top scorer Chris Harden, the boys were in no doubt they had to be at their best to get a victory. The team warmed up strongly and felt positive going into the game. They started confidently on the ball but very early on the Staines tactic of big aerials which were to be their main attacking threat were causing the team problems. Nevertheless, BOE were knocking the ball around well in attack which led to numerous opportunities in the first 15 minutes which we failed to capitalise on. Thankfully Josh Self was the right man in the right place to stick the ball into the net with great skill and put the 1s in a very deserved 1-0 lead. Sadly the aerials continued to cause the team some issues and led to a break from Staines from which they forced a penalty corner. Their man from the top then slotted it past a hapless back 5 into the bottom right hand corner. 1-1. Suddenly after a great start the 1s realised they had a real game on their hands and had to step it up. BOE were having the majority of the possession and playing it around nicely. This led to a great chance for Tom Mayfield to score his 2nd goal in as many matches as he made no mistake slotting the ball home with aplomb. Once again BOE took a deserved lead and held this going into half time.

The second half began as the first finished with BOE having the most of the ball and Staines continuing to have their one main threat of the long aerial. Staines then enjoyed a period of pressure as they tried to force themselves back into the game but BOE did a good job in soaking this up for a good period. But eventually their resilience cracked and this led to a Staines equaliser from a break away where BOE legs began tired and a simple ball found it's way into the D was knocked home by a free and waiting Staines striker. A depressingly familiar feeling and conceding a winning position meant a real effort was needed from BOE to regain the lead and secure a vital 3 points. Nathan Bullens in goal continued to keep BOE in it with some super saves from numerous Staines short corners. Thankfully going forward BOE continued to have plenty of the ball and were linking together well. One of these forays led to a penalty corner after the marauding Mike Benson had battled into the D from his own half. The GK made a good save from a ferocious Michael Lawrence drag flick but the ball fell to the ready and waiting Mike Benson who had just injected. He made no mistake with a cool finish and his jumping jack celebration was a sight to behold. This put BOE 3-2 up and back in a winning position. Ten minutes to go and a steely resolve from the back 5 saw them hold out well despite heavy Staines pressure. Nathan was again to be thanked for keeping out 3 or 4 penalty corners in the final period.

All in all a scrappy and unattractive game littered with a few moments of class. However it was a deserved win for the BOE 1s based on possession, intention and ambition despite a lack of execution. This win seriously helped to pull The Club further clear of the relegation zone. Lots to reflect on as the hockey showed moments of brilliance but was too often interspersed with silly, sloppy, lazy mistakes and a weakness against a single tactic which the team failed to learn from. Going forwards lessons must be learnt if points are to be won. The boys move onto another huge League and Cup weekend with a familiar feeling: top of the league away on the Sat and then a big EH Trophy away game on the Sunday. The EH Trophy QF once again pits us against identical opposition - Wotton-under-edge from Gloucs but this time at their place.This week we are not the ones out for revenge but are certain Wootton-under-edge will definitely be out for some. We will need to improve and find some of that Guernsey magic if we wish to continue our cup story. Be Proud be Worthy.

Match Report - Ben Wyatt