PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

So with Kicky away on mediation classes in Asia to become the Hockey Master of Zen, the Heathens travelled south east to sunny Sevenoaks to complete their last friendly.

The team was assembled with 11 players only 10mins before the start of game thanks to the fine navigational skills of Fenno, who had now completed a swimming iron man and decided that he was too important to read roads signs and continued to drive around the M25 past Sevenoaks, with 3 players and the warmup bag. How did he not make DOTD?!!

Once Fenno and the remaining third of the team arrived, they were locked and loaded. The Sevenoaks team was experienced and would take no prisoners. Games against this club are always a good battle, however, pre-season against this club is a good way to get rid of those cobwebs.

The rest of the club took note of the impressive performance from the Heathens last season and that of the 5’s and clearly could not help but ask players to support the higher teams on a permanent basis to show the higher teams how to win leagues. The Heathens have the biggest squad in the club - players don’t leave they are loaned - once you’re a Heathen, you are always a Heathen!

The game commenced with fresh blood from young Will and Josh in the midfield weaving in and out of the Sevenoaks’ midfield with Fenno and Adam anchoring the centre mid roles. Sevenoaks did not make it easy but after some persistence and a dive from Fenno, the ball dribbled pass the line. One - nil. Heathen’s hearts were lifted but, they knew one goal would not be enough to hold the Purple and White warriors from Kent, led by Richard Young, former Blackheath Ladies coach.
Sevenoaks began to pick at the Heathen’s midfield exposing the backline. James ‘the gazelle’ Smithy- Smitherson, the South African Wall, and ‘soft hands’ Lewis, would fight to the bitter end and they did, but alas, the oppo slipped one in. Some say the dancing, musician, science genius, goalie was thinking more about his next performance on Broadway than the ball in the back of the net… 1 all. You can’t have a clean sheet every week?

The new Heathens leader, who was so excited to receive the captaincy, he got inured before preseason, began his team talk. No one had any idea what he said, but thought the best idea would be, don’t lose the ball and score more goals than the oppo….. So they did.

They say youth is wasted on the young, but it seems that BE Colt’s don’t understand this and contradicted this time and time again throughout the whole 70mins. The second goal from Will came as a result of solid passing linking up the former Heathens Captain, Charlie and Josh which showed Sevenoaks, this may not be their day. Tino began to find an usual amount of space in the middle of the pitch allowing Adam space to charge up the line. Andy Moore hammered some shots ‘on target’ and ‘at the goal’, but alas, it was not his day. But the pressure was mounting, the Heathens were starting to gel, they wanted more than two goals. Josh found the back of the net following a slick delivery from Andy, following a play from Adam.

Booble-head and Tino pressed forward and defended hard as the Sevenoaks would not give up.

The final whistle blew, 3:1!! Victory to the Heathens!

Teas back at the Sevenoaks clubhouse was special treat for Paddy where he got an extra sausage from a new friend.

Tino

MOTM – James Smith - Sterling job at CB.
DOTM – Tino - for stacking it following a sprint down the wing.