Resurgent 2s Show Their Mettle

On far too many occasions this season, the 71st minute post-mortem has including some choice language and a recurring theme: why can’t we score?! But in a display of defensive dominance, midfield flair and (occasionally) clinical finishing, the 2s came off the pitch with a winning glow that has been tantalisingly out of reach in the big games this season.

The opening exchanges weren’t brimming with quality for either side, as both midfields tested each other out. However, a tactically-astute change from the home side saw Edd Thorogood fall on his sword, and remove himself from the pitch. All of a sudden the game swung in Blackheath’s favour, and the effervescent Mike Benson, making a welcome return to the 2s, began to make his mark on the game. Two identical chances fell to skipper Prem Marwaha in close succession, but the least said about those the better….
Elsewhere on the pitch, Blackheath’s band of young defenders – James Clarke, Irvine Turner & Gabe Downer- were playing a unique brand of laid-back hockey pioneered by their leader, Derwyn Baillie. The formula was simple: pick the ball off your opposing player, and give it to someone more skilful, (i.e- Andy Slack). The only threats facing the youngsters (and Derwyn) were occasional breakaways from Marden, their one clear-cut chance being inexplicably saved by Turner. With the ball pin-balling around the D, a deflected shot looked destined for the roof of the net, before Big Irv touched it over from a yard out. Blackheath’s goalmouth virginity intact, the game went on.

Yet, the majority of the first half’s goalmouth action was at the opposite end of the pitch. Benson saw a ferocious drag-flick well saved, Chris Fowler managed to miss the ball in a move plucked straight from the training ground, and Marwaha continued his fine form in front of goal, narrowly deflecting the ball over the bar after a mazy run from Slacky. Up front, Ali Basham and Jake Lamplough managed to combine manic energy and showy skills (respectively), to cause the Marden defence plenty of problems, whilst Ben Heggarty’s 2nd XI renaissance continued. Nevertheless, in a match that was dangerously close to becoming ‘another one of those games’, the score remained 0-0 as the half time whistle blew.
(NB- James Craigmyle was also on the pitch in the first half)
To say that the game was in need of a goal was perhaps harsh on the players, who had put together an entertaining half of hockey, at times drawing polite rounds of applause from the home fans. But what was undeniable was that the longer the game went on without a goal, the more nervous those courteous fans would become… cue Mike Benson. With 5 minutes played in the second half, a short-corner was awarded to the home side after a good run from Lamplough. The injection was fired in, and by the time the No.1 runner had reached the penalty spot, it was already too late. Perhaps Benno was spurred on by the fact he had to work 5 minutes after the game was due to finish and was keen to put the result to bed, or perhaps he was just showing off. Either way Blackheath had their breakthrough.

In situations like these, when the game is so tentatively poised, the general consensus is for everyone to keep their heads. But no less than 1 minute later, the entire team succumbed to an uncontrollable bout of euphoria. Marden pushed-back, shipping the ball to their left half. An interception, and the ball fell to Downer. Looking up, he drilled a pin-point pass to Lamplough, who calmly deflected the ball home. Could this be happening?! For the first time all season, the 2s were not only leading against a side above them in the league, but they had a 2 goal cushion!

However this, along with another tactical change, saw the balance of play shift in Marden’s favour. Chasing the game, the away side began to dominate possession, but the 2s were more than happy to sit back and strike on the counter. At long last Craigmyle was called into action, and in a typically resolute display, he refused to be beaten. At the other end more chances went begging as swift counter-attacks tore through the Marden defence, but oddly it didn’t seem to matter. Fowler and Basham were finding the ball in acres of space, and Clarke and Downer were able to make headway into the opposing 25. The out and out attacking formation of the away side meant Blackheath chances were never far away, and sure enough there was still time for Marwaha to cap off a Milan Baros-esque finishing display with one last missed opportunity, firing a shot into the gap between the frame of the goal and the (cowering) frame of Jake Lamplough.

Final score Blackheath and OE’s 2nd XI 2-0 Marden Russets 1st XI, and as polite applause rang out around the ground, the 2s walked off knowing that they had pulled of a quite brilliant display of hockey.

MOTM- Gabe Downer: didn’t put a foot wrong for 70 minutes, and created the 2nd goal.
DOTD- Prem Marwaha: (see above).