HARD FOUGHT LOSS

A 14.30pm push back away at Cambridge meant we had to meet promptly to head down there. This is where the problem started. With people missing trains and arriving at the meet time over 30 mins late, accompanied by incorrect post codes of the venue severely ate up our warm up time. With 6 players arriving at push back time meant we were going to have to consolidate quickly to ensure an early onslaught didn’t happen. Unfortunately, Uni of Kent were better prepared and not as hung over as we would have liked and rushed at us from the onset. We weren’t settled and weren’t ready and it wasn’t long before we were made to pay with Kent Uni slick passing creating an opportunity which they took.

At 1-0 down so early on we rallied and went again. We managed to get the ball forward and into the D, but some good defending and a quick break saw us under pressure again The defence were perhaps a bit guilty of diving in early and some slick passing from the oppo created the opportunity which was dispatched.

Cries of heads up were ringing round the team and we pressed again. Play was much improved and we created some chances but sadly couldn’t finish them. Kent Uni also created chances forcing some good saves from Victor, but sadly it wasn’t too long before the 3rd was conceded on the break again and dispatched from a tight angle by there striker

We could have been forgiven at this point, approx 15 minutes in, of letting this get to us, but our sense of pride would not allow this. We composed ourselves and started to play some decent hockey. Slacky and Clover were solid in midfield and spread the ball around. We won a few short corners but were sadly unable to convert. Dave Collington made some great runs on the right, the forward line of Archie, Will and Nick worked tirelessly but the well drilled oppo afforded them little space in key areas.

The oppo again forced saves out of Victor but we began to make much more of a game of it.

Went in 3-0 down at half time, but buoyed by the last 15 minutes of the half we got ready to battle hard in the 2nd half. Started well and the game was pretty even for most of it. Tom Cleall who hard worked tirelessly throughout made some great tackles and interceptions and spread the ball forward well from left back. James Goldsmith Jnr some vital tackles and Rich Booth in an unfamiliar role of right back played well and was a good outlet for the defense, but we failed to convert any pressure we exerted into goals. 2 late goals from the oppo, a tap in after a save and a deflection took the score to 5-0. Although the oppo thoroughly deserved to win, I think the scoreline makes the game sound more 1 sided than it actually was.

Special thanks must go out to Annette who travelled down to umpire for us and did a fantastic job. Can’t complain about the result but the game had more positives in terms of performance than the result

We will have to lick our wounds, learn from this and ensure we carry the positives into the remaining games and convert this into results

MOTM – Tom Cleall (Worked tirelessly and pulled of some great tackles)
DOTD – Viktor Lanckriet (Horrendously late)