Following a down heartening draw with New Becs last week the BOE 2's were determined to put the record straight. With an early push back time, coach Thorogood ordered an early meet. Little did the boys know that a pre game team challenge of the Jenga blocks lay in store. On the outside it looked fun but the gaffers sly undertone to see who had the steady hand was working a treat. As the boys showed their prowess on the Jenga scene, skipper Baillie started to clock watch. Sure enough as the team talk was calling, Rob '9 pint Friday' Noble knocked the tower down and the rest, as they say, is history!!!

And so to hockey and the tough task of Ashford. We knew this group would come and give us a fine test. The minds were concentrated and bodies prepared as the 10.30am push back time arrived. High quality fast starts are what this group of men are about but to be 1-0 up inside 2 minutes was a a dream. A fantastic midfield turnover from Clover & Orange found Mark Ison in loads of space at the top of the D and the big man fully waltzed into the area and roofed the ball. The Meadow was Bouncing!!! BOE stepped on the gas and continued to roar forward, a few half chances fell the BOE way but it was Ashford who had 2 corners that were brilliantly kept out by the BOE back line.

Due to Scott Dow's broken finger nail Ben Rew was having a run out at right back, he was doing more than that. Brilliantly industrious from the wing and solid in defence, his airial's were something to be forgotten but it was his ball into the D from a long corner that found Edd Thorogood who took 2 touches to settle himself and then a 3rd to reverse stick the ball into the goal, 2-0....

Jimmy 'Nemo' Morrison was handed a start to boost his confidence and he was a menace throughout, his work rate was superb and he was helping his side to boss the midfield. When he keeps it simple and runs his socks off this lad is one hell of a player. It was Nemo that iced the 1st half cake with a speculative effort from range which evaded all deflection attempts apart from the young Ashford keeper who duly kicked the ball into his own net, Christmas come early, 3-0. HT.

The need for control and maintaining possession was key for BOE and they did just that. Midfield quintet of Moore, Orange, Clover, Noble & Morrison, along with defencive pace setters DeWit and Baillie, slowed the tempo down with the aim to wear the opposition down. A few breaks for Ashford saw Dewit sent to the stands for a high stick in the D, but BOE kept control and were fashioning chances themselves.

The return of 3 men up top, Piesold, Brown & Ison was helping to form more of a threat. Thorogood had look lost without his boys last week and the forward line looked to be clicking once more. Piesold was industrious as always and as he picked up one of Nick Gough's trademark line balls the gaps opened up again. Piesold to Brown, Brown to Thorogood, back to Piesold, round the keeper, short corner as it hit a defenders leg. The resulting corner saw Sgt Maj Mark Ison floored, as the ball was stopped, Ison ripped through the flick line at pace, missed the ball, fell to the ground clutching his head! 'I blacked out, I blacked out', he was absolutely fine, well nothing that a quick rub down from matron back at the barracks won't solve.

BOE's 4th corner of the half would be the deciding moment as Ison managed to connect with the slip right, the ball should have been played back into the middle but Ison was marked so Thorogood located the bottom corner, 4-0 and thoroughly deserved. A mention again must go to Ryan Bishop who marshalled his defence brilliantly once more, another cleansheet for the big South African.....a high quality GK is hard to come by.

The next 3 games of Holcombe(h), Canterbury(a) & Cliftonville (h) looks to be a tough run in to Christmas, the boys know what they need to do and they must treat each one like a cup final! A determined consistency is what is required and 1-14 need to make sure they are at their best each week. Another MOTM performance from Andy Clover see's him take an easy lead into the player of the year stakes!

Roll on the Jenga bus!!!