SLIM PICKINGS WITH SPECIAL K

K Sports (Cobdown) Men's 2s 8 BEHC Highwaymen 2

This may have been one of the heftiest defeats ever inflicted upon the BEHC Highwaymen, but the team still emerged with great credit after a gutsy and courageous performance for the full 70 minutes. K Sports were indeed "specially" good, and it was clear from their recent results even before the pushback that the weakened visitors would be in for a dose of Rorke's Drift in Greater Maidstone. Recent recruitment has given K Sports a team which could function several leagues higher than Kent Open 3, as their recent demolitions of teams in league matches (even by double-digit scorelines) testifies, and the Highwaymen had to patrol once more without some of their key midfielders.

At 3-0 down within the first quarter, it looked like a cricket score might be in the offing, but the men in red never capitulated, and actually played some good hockey too, only letting in one more before the break. It is unusual at this level to see reverse-stick tomahawks disappearing into the top corner, where drifting play from left to right across the top of the D is generally seen as a positive sign from the defensive perspective, but the hosts scored some stunners. As is always the case with a dominant team, however, lucky deflections and rebounds also contributed to some highly fortunate goals as well, many of which were celebrated as if the game were a cup final rather a mid-season friendly.

A formation switch from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 seemed to help after half-time, as the visitors scored a couple of well-deserved goals and nearly made it three with one effort that dented the left-hand post. The scoreline was a pretty accurate outcome based on the disparities between the two participating teams, but even at the highest level, Team GB managed to lose an Olympic semi-final in 2012 to Holland by a 9-2 margin. A sense of perspective is therefore not out of place here regarding the scoreline. So how did the team do individually?

DEFENCE

Keeper Tom Conway was absolutely magnificent and utterly inspirational throughout, and had lost the ability to both stand and speak by the final whistle, if not to perspire profusely. Thanks to his many interventions with both mitt and boot, neither umpire needed to resort to using pocket calculators to keep score, and one mid-air fend off of a tracer bullet in the second half was particularly memorable. The only time he looked non-plussed was when faced with a late one-on-one where the ball was played around him with some aplomb. However, as it was one of his own defenders on an apparent suicide mission, he could be forgiven for his reticence, and a quiet expletive.

Phil Kinch stuck to his task throughout and put in a great performance where he was always ready to use the ball, and, particularly after the break, was also able to limit the damage caused by the hosts' speedy, young and talented forwards through shrewd positional sense.

Steve Miller, the birthday boy, picked up where he left off the previous week, turning in a fine central defensive display, whilst directing traffic with calm passing, well-timed interventions and general good humour.

Matt Southgate had another fine game away from the Dynamos, once more filling a full-back role with great tactical awareness throughout. The "big man" was just as good as he was under very different circumstances against Canterbury before Christmas, and his key contribution on Saturday was a wonderful long ball up the left touchline to help set up the team's very well-worked first goal.

MIDFIELD

Chris Bernard was the ultimate Duracell bunny in the first half, patrolling the right touchline (yes, virtually all of it!) with endless energy and vigour, while making some very positive interventions, both defensively and offensively. He has probably not run as hard or fast since his car broke down en route to a recent home game, but the hamstring held up, and he can hold his head up too after a courageous performance punctuated by his customary witticisms.

Richard Cleall's experience helped steady the ship after the initial onslaught, and - as always - he had a hand in most of the Highwaymen's best moments. Being kept so busy also helped limit his commentary to the umpires, which was probably a good thing for all parties involved, but the team's talismanic figure never gives up, which is why he is such a vital cog in the Highwaymen's engine room.

Ravi Wickramsuriya put in a man-of-the-match performance and refused to take a step backwards or cease in his attempts to drive the team into the opponent's half whenever the opportunity presented. Marvellous.

Elliott Alger. What have they been feeding this guy? Last time our correspondent saw him he was about a yard shorter, but he has developed into a very useful player in the meantime, refusing to be overawed by the battle around him and always looking to do something positive for the team. A very good all-round performance.

Sammy Chana found himself in the rare position of starting a match, principally by managing to actually turn up before the pushback (for a change), which might have accounted for his slow start to proceedings. But once provoked, what a performance! An annoyed Sammy can make for a feisty player, but his all-action second-half saw him tackling, tracking back, closing down, and scoring a very well-taken second goal for the team. This was his best display of the season by some distance.

FORWARDS

Pat Gainey led the line bravely, despite being fed starvation rations in terms of attacking possession, holding the ball up well to give the overworked defence a short breather, but never getting too much to chew on himself. He unselfishly created space for both of the team's goals.

Matt Robinson continues to top the team's scoring charts thanks to his regular goal-a-game average, and he once more took an opportunist effort with style to cap the Highwaymen's move of the match. His pace and direct running showed that K Sports were vulnerable at the back when put under pressure … even if that did not happen too often.

CONCLUSION

This was an excellent friendly against top-class opposition which will hold the team in good stead for the nine upcoming league matches. There were plenty of positives to take from a game where the Highwaymen showed how to lose with class, dignity and a smile, without ever rolling over and dying. For once, not one of the goals conceded came from a penalty corner! When (rather than if) K Sports are promoted, it will surely make sense for them to move up a couple of divisions at least so that they are seriously tested for a change, unless they actually enjoy putting 12 without reply past Maidstone HC, as they did in their final away match before the mid-season break. They have a great home pitch, lovely bar and superb car parking facilities. Shame about the chilly upstairs changing rooms, cold showers and dreadful congealed pasta reminiscent of a sad student pad. It just helps people appreciate LMG and home catering all the more.

Team:
Tom Conway (GK), Tim Walters, Phil Kinch, Steve Miller, Matt Southgate, Richard Cleall, Chris Bernard, Elliott Alger, Ravi Wickramasuriya, Sammy Chana, Pat Gainey, Matt Robinson, David Maltman, Stephen Gilbert (C).

Man-of-the-match:
Ravi Wickramasuriya narrowly edged out Tom Conway and Sami Chana in a "people's vote" thanks to his all-action, front-foot display, where he constantly took the game to the hosts despite the battering the team was taking.

Umpires:
The home umpires' performance had no bearing whatsoever on the result or the score, but the law of averages would normally still suggest that the odd 50:50 decision would go the way of the visitors. Sadly, this was never the case, but what goes around generally comes around again - eventually.

P.S.
For those of you interested, a retrospective report for the previous week-end's friendly at Sutton Valence has now been posted to the Club website. You can access it by clicking HERE .