SWALE SUCCESS

Under the pump from the start by Old Bordenians' sweeping attacks, the fives struggled. Scrappy stick skills, soft passes and passing to the opposition didn't help. There was no surprise that we went one goal down after just 15 minutes. The scrapiness continued through the half, but fortunately gradually improved, and we were looking better. We were unlucky to not get a goal after a series of shots and close range aerial knocks towards goal, but yet again this season we have come up against a fantastic keeper. Some repeat offenders kept refusing to pass the ball, even though obvious pass is obvious. As skipper Jamie Cotgreave said at half time, the team was probably playing at about 30% of our winning level.

The sun got nice and low, peeking out from between the trees, making for a picturesque ground as we went into the second half. The game picked up (or at least BOE picked up its game). With far more possession and domination in attack, we won a short corner. Toby, (normally a tram engine, but pushed to mainline duties for the match) did a brilliant job, delivering the goods with a cracking flat hit into the bottom corner.

Clearly Old Bordenians were doing the old trick (just like many other teams in the league) of flooding into the D. At several points they had all 11 players inside the 25. But we know how to deal with it... quick goals from brisk runs down the ground before they can all flood back, or short corners.

Ten minutes left, and we got it all together (finally). Passing was working (mostly), running was working, positions were near perfect. BOE made a great turnover, and our strikers and midfield ran. Running on the right, Ben (with someone else's help... Max?) brought the ball into the D, crossed to Charlie, and the ball was straight into the goal. Old B's were simply out run and outnumbered on a perfectly executed training drill.

Playing in deep centre-mid, Toby Partridge had a superb game, running like mad and skillfully distributing the ball around the ground - and probably a faultless game in the second half. Many thanks to Old Bordenians for providing two umpires.