D-FEAT HARSH ON RESURGENT VETS

BOEHC Men’s Vets 0 Folkestone Optimists Men’s 6s 2

This was more like it … a “Close Encounter of the Third Kind”, or at least the “third division kind”, as the top two battled it out for the first sunny, windless and warm(ish) fixture since way back before Christmas. On the one hand the fixture was less meaningful than it could have been as Folkestone, by far the best team in the league and unlucky not to actually score a 100% winning season, had already strolled to the title a week earlier with three games still to play. This afforded the visitors the luxury of leaving a couple of their older / more experienced players at home (the ones over 44, rather than those over 14, that is!) and draft in a couple more youngsters from the production line, but both teams were clearly up for it from the start. The Club can be a class act at times, and after pre-match congratulations, applause and handshakes all round for the worthy title-winners, the home side then proceeded to tear into their opponents like rabid extra-terrestrials from Alien. At last it seemed that the men in red had recovered their mojo for the first time in 2016.

In truth, the auspices were hardly promising, as the BOEHC team had failed to score at all in two of the last three games against the visitors, with the cumulative goals statistics during that time adding up to a less than healthy 1-14. Nevertheless, captain Stephen Gilbert looked at his available resources and decided to stick his neck out in true ET fashion, opting for a highly ambitious 3-3-4 formation and all-out attack for the first half. The move nearly reaped rich dividends as, prompted by the team’s stalwart and almost ever-present midfield duo of Ravi Wickramasuriya and Richard Cleall, the home side spent the early exchanges virtually encamped in and around the away team’s D. Greg Dowse and Mark Ainley added some neat touches too, with the returning Richard Cornick making a huge difference on the right-hand flank, whence most of the home team’s threat was emanating. David Leverton, guesting from the Dynamos’ team this week-end, had a fine game too, and complemented those around him well.

Up front the team welcomed back recent absentee Jason Walsh, but it was Pat Gainey who really caught the eye, making an outstanding contribution time and time again with his back to the opponents, receiving the ball and then turning towards goal. Some of the passing and moves were reminiscent of the team’s early season form, and it seemed it would only be a matter of time before the home side would take the lead. But the visiting keeper clearly thought otherwise, as he parried, kicked and diverted numerous goal-bound efforts to safety, and the game somehow stayed goalless as a result.

Folkestone are top for a reason, however, and were always dangerous on the break, calling the home team’s man-of-the match and goalkeeper Keith Elliott into emergency action on quite a few occasions, although the defence – once again marshalled by the excellent Steve Miller and with the highly mobile Peter Robinson restored at right-back – generally coped well throughout against opponents who have tended to score for fun against the Club in the past. Always a particular danger at short-corners, the Optimists’ outlook was starting to turn decidedly pessimistic as the home side was able to thwart their usually successful routines with a combination of sticks, feet and various other body parts. So, 0-0 at the break left the enticing prospect of a draw possibly being enough for the men from BOEHC to secure second place in the season’s finale on April 2.

As is always the case, when a team fails to convert periods of territorial or possession dominance into goals, it usually ends up paying dearly for this, and the tide started to turn after the teams turned around for the second 35. As the Empire struck back, the game became more and more stretched and Folkestone looked ever more dangerous as the Vets failed to convert any of their openings. It was, however, a little tough on the home side that it was a marginal call which swung the balance inexorably in favour of the men from the Kent coast. Was the offence committed in the D, or not … according to the hosts, most definitely not (well, they would say that, wouldn’t they?) … according to the guests, most certainly yes (well, they would say that, wouldn’t they?) The umpire stuck to his guns, however, and it proved to be one short too many for the Club’s defence, as a smart finish from a slip to the left made it 0-1. The second goal ten minutes later was almost immaterial as the home side pushed up in vain for an equaliser, but defeat was overall very harsh on the men in red. However, you can never complain about losing a game where you have failed to score yourselves, so for the third time out of four, the Vets drew a blank against the Optimists. They will be sadly missed next season in all aspects ………. apart from the results, of course.

And so to April 2, where it appears unlikely that anything other than a win will do. By the time Burnt Ash have played their home game in hand against Maidstone, a team who is on as bad a run of form as the Club and which lost the corresponding home fixture before Christmas 2-8, they will be level on points but already have a superior goal difference of 1 to that of the BOEHC Vets. There is therefore one last chance to “not rue” the many missed chances and at the same time not end the season with a run of four consecutive on-pitch defeats. At least the team lost this one playing some good hockey again, and with a smile on their faces too.

Team:
Keith Elliott (GK), Steve Miller, Tim Walters, Peter Robinson, Ravi Wickramasuriya, Greg Dowse, Richard Cleall, Mark Ainley, Jason Walsh, Pat Gainey, Ross Ainley, Richard Cornick, David Leverton and Stephen Gilbert (C).

Man-of-the-match:
Keith Elliott – on a day with merited and multiple nominations, the Vets’ trusty and multi-coloured, mulit-talented keeper got the nod for a fine display, where for once, the Folkestone keeper was also the opposition’s man-of-the-match.

Umpires:
Fenno Outen and Tino Graham took the honours on this, the latter looking absolutely resplendent in his new AKUMA top.

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