HAMSTRUNG HEROES

BOEHC Vets 1 BOEHC Mens' 5s 3

Three unfortunate second-half turnovers of possession, the last being a matter of seconds before the final whistle, overturned a 1-0 half-time lead to give the "visiting" 5s a 3-1 winning margin, but this only tells a fraction of the story. Once again low on squad numbers the home team were grateful to field loanee Ders Baillie along with Phil Goode, to leave things looking pretty hunky dory in midfield. The pair carved open the visitors time and time again in the opening quarter with the precision of practiced pathologists, setting up a number of one-on-ones for the returning Roddy Harrington, who was eventually rewarded for his persistence after 15 minutes. Baillies' incisive run and dribble into the D drew the keeper, and the pass slipped inside was delivered on the proverbial platter, allowing Harrington to net with aplomb. Latecomers in the autumn sunshine crowd would have been pushed at this point to see which was the Division 2 side, and which was the one which would be plying its trade in Division 3 during the 2015-1016 season.

Once again Phil Kinch was excellent in defence, as was keeper Tony Johnson, who marshalled the back line with a confidence that will be missed outside of Vicarage Road this season. Peter Robinson too put in one of his best ever performances in the red shirt of BOEHC, showing just what a valuable asset he can be when he heads off to a home match with an A-Z in his pocket. Simon McDonald continued where he left off last week, as did the magnificent man-of-the-match Richard Cleall, who is running the serious risk of upward squad migration at the Club if he continues in this rich vein for much longer.

But of course, it was too good to last. It may have been a ding-dong battle played at ping-pong pace, but it was the double "ping-ping" of strained hamstrings for two of the team's most prized possessions, Ders Baillie and Jason Walsh, that caused the tide to turn somewhat irrevocably before half-time. The second half was at times one-way-traffic, at others more like a traffic jam in and around the home team's D, as the Vets' speedy strike force of Gilbert and Maltman were starved of possession like size zero models. But still the home team always looked like they might sneak another goal, particularly when Phil Goode cannoned three short-corner attempts into the visiting keeper's pads.

This time last year the Vets lost to the same opposition in a league match 1-4, where the "1" probably flattered them a bit. Whilst no-one will begrudge the excellent spirit of Paul Whitney's 5s whose togetherness and resilience will hold them in good stead post-promotion, it was probably the home team that took more out of the game, although getting 11 fit bodies (including a regular keeper) out on to the pitch each week may prove to be the biggest short-term challenge for captain Gilbert.

But all in all it was a great "derby" game, played in a competitive but totally sporting spirit, excellently umpired - as always - by Seneka and Andy Moore (on policeman’s whistle!), and a credit to the true traditions of the Club.

Team:
Johnson (GK), Kinch, Robinson, Maltman, Walters, Cleall, Walsh, Baillie, McDonald, Goode, Harrington, Gilbert (C), D'Cruz.
Umpires:
Seneka and Andy Moore
Report by Tim Walters