DOMINANT 2s TOO GOOD FOR ASHFORD

An A-team performance against Ashford, 5-0 winners! Featuring Hannibal - Prem Marwaha, Mr T - Edd Thorogood, Faceman - Joe Allen and Howlin' mad Marly!! If you have a goal difference problem - if no one else can help - and if you can find them - maybe you can hire: The A-Team aka BOEHC 2ndXI!

So with my reference to an 1980s TV series out of the way and the majority of the 2nd XI scratching their heads wondering what it was and where this is going, I will start my recollections of our sweet victory. It was to be a great day at College Meadow with the 2nd team continuing to grow in confidence and beginning to really gel together. Today we saw the return of Joe Allen who arrived fresh faced and fully charged. I told Joe in our pre-match chat that I predicted he would score today - I suggested he would drive into the D and score with a reverse stick shot. Unsurprisingly, he didn't disappoint, and with one of his first few touches of the ball he nipped into the D and banged a shot into the right hand corner! 1-0. This only cemented what had been a dominant start to the match with several opportunities going begging. The golden opportunity I missed when one on one with the keeper was easily forgotten as a string of other excellent well-worked opportunities to score were realised. Further pressure and a couple of short corners saw the 1st one acrobatically saved by the keeper. James Clarke riffling the ball tantalising close under the cross bar only for the keeper to parry it over. Then, another good passage of play resulted in a penalty stroke. A swift passing move saw Edd's first-time shot saved by the keeper, who then used the back of his stick to save the rebound. So without a fuss, up stepped James 'the assassin' Clarke, who powered the ball into the back of the net. More dominant play ended the half 2-0.

The 2nd half started much like the 1st, good pressure and excellent efforts all round the pitch. Howling mad Marly who it appeared had taken his anti-psychotic medication this weekend, won an excellent short corner with some determined skill. However, he almost boiled over needing a brief talking therapy session and a warm embrace to calm the inner demons! I jest and it should be noted for the record that Marly has been an excellent recruit to this team bringing great enthusiasm, humour and some much needed muscle upfront. The short corner was swiftly taken and again, James C stepped up and fired in a sweet short corner goal flicked with pace beating the keeper. Yet, the best was still to come. Our magic open play goal! It started with me poaching the ball from the opposition then swift skill and vision (artistic licence to embellish) I found Prem, who passed to Edd on the left side of the D and in turn he picked out Jake L who was very well positioned beyond the keeper near the post to glance the ball home. The game was won, everyone was playing very well, the dominance continued. The confidence was overflowing, so much so, that what I will describe now will scarcely be believed and should be remembered for sometime to come. Irvine, whose role is usually playing in the centre of defence, found himself on the attacking 25 yard line demanding the ball. No that's not the remarkable event! He received the ball only to burst forward into the D and unleash a reverse stick slap that ricocheted against the backboard - goal!!! He was mobbed!! A remarkable effort and like all miracles we may not see something like that for a while. 5-0, job done - the A-team had completed a fine mission.

MOTM: A fully charged Joe Allen was excellent with everything he did.

DOTD: myself (missed a golden opportunity and failed to come with the correct shirt). These were all minor infringement considering the following list of buffooneries: Keeper James Florence - almost went to Ashford! Tristan - immense skill shown beating 5 players only to top the ball well wide. Prem - forgot to bring the balls, spare shirts & masks. James Clarke - for changing into ankle socks and brown patterned canvas shoes after the game!