STONES BLOWN AWAY

BOEHC Men’s Vets 5 Maidstone Men’s 6s 1

Perhaps “back in the wind-tunnel” would be a more accurate summary than “back in the groove”, as whilst the latter might accurately describe the team’s form, the former was a far truer reflection of the playing conditions in which the match took place. Hockey pitches can often be rather exposed venues at the best of times, and this season has certainly witnessed plenty of blustery week-ends, but this Saturday definitely took the biscuit ………. and then flung it about 100 yards away, turning it into crumbs in the process. Those players capable of lip-reading certainly had an advantage over their colleagues in terms of on-pitch communication, whilst one resident comic asked whether AKUMA supplied Bluetooth headsets we could possibly use. No matter, the whistle blew (not that anyone heard it) and the game began.

For once, the Vets were able to field a virtually unchanged team, with Chris Brown slotting in up front for the absent Richard Cornick, and Tom Conway returning in goal and, on this occasion, managing to injure himself (only slightly) on the field of play and without a motor vehicle in sight. In one of his relatively few moments of high-octane action he collided with a post and came off marginally second, but once again was not beaten in open play throughout the full 70 minutes. The unchanged unholy defensive triumvirate of David Maltman, Steve Miller and Phil Kinch, otherwise known as “the father, the son and the veggie nut-roast”, were worked hard in the opening quarter by a mobile Maidstone attack who were, however, nowhere near as potent as the early-season pacesetters who held the Club to a 3-3 draw back in October. One or two of their youngsters appeared to have genuine problems negotiating the wind which kept reminding those present how bad it was by bending the poplar trees double behind the goal at the Kidbrooke end of the ground.

The home team eventually edged in front midway through the first half after some effective approach play from Mark Ainley and a nice lay-off by Chris Brown set up Graham Green to continue his rich vein of form. With both Ravi Wickramasuriya and Richard Cleall having excellent games in midfield, BOEHC seemed to be wresting control of proceedings, but as so often this season, the concession of a penalty corner proved costly and a slipped pass found an attacker and a goal at the right post to make it 1-1 on 25 minutes.

Not to be denied, the home team fought back, and once again it was the man in the scoring form of his life, Peter Robinson, who sauntered into the D, apparently “tacking” against the wind, gave a neat drop of the shoulder, and then coolly slotted the ball into the corner. Some degree of greater comfort was then granted by a well-taken goal by Mark Ainley on the cusp of half-time, twisting and turning like an awkward cork in a fine bottle of claret before striking the ball firmly past the bemused visiting keeper.

Captain Stephen Gilbert joined the fray after half-time, and if anything the home side looked a bit more comfortable than in the first half, although the team in red were once again indebted to another trademark flat stick “Berlin Wall Blockade” from man-of-the-match Steve Miller as Maidstone threatened to break through late in the game. Further goals from Pat Gainey, working his way back to both his goal-scoring feats of old as well as full-fitness, and Graham Green gave the scoreline a slightly inflated look, but this was never a game that the home side were ever in danger of losing. As usual, Maidstone seem to have another useful crop of young players coming through.

So the official line with five league games to play is quite simple, and as follows: regardless of what anybody else does, three wins and a draw and the Vets are mathematically guaranteed second spot in the table come season’s end. Bearing in mind that both Folkestone (champions elect with two games in hand) and Burnt Ash (the Club’s final day opponents and its closest challengers for the runners-up position) form part of that five match series, it is essential that opportunities are maximised in the other three fixtures. The first of these follows a one-week break at bogey team Gravesham, presumably so called because BOEHC have lost two of their last three games against them, and because their home pitch has the consistency and appearance of congealed snot.

It is all to play for …

Team:
Tom Conway (GK), Phil Kinch, David Maltman, Steve Miller, Tim Walters, Peter Robinson, Ravi Wickramasuriya, Mark Ainley, Richard Cleall, Graham Green, Chris Brown, Pat Gainey and Stephen Gilbert (C).

Man-of-the-match:
Steve Miller … the latest in a series of fine performances marshalling the troops from the centre of defence.

Umpires:
Tino Graham and Andy Moore, both of who did extremely well, nipping some Maidstone whingeing in the bud before it could take root and spread.