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Sat 20 Jan 2018 · Open Division 3
Burnt Ash 6
Mens Highwaymen
1
7
SETTING NEW STANDARDS
Rich Mills22 Jan 2018 - 17:52
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Highwaymen deliver strong perfomance
Highwaymen beat Burnt Ash with style and skill
The venue was a very cold, floodlight and, remarkably, a dry Dartford pitch.
The opposition was a highly mobile, individually talented and motivated team.
Little did they know that for the first time in seasons, the Highwaymen would really “walk the talk” and do what they said they would do in the pre-match briefing. It was also a surprise for the Highwaymen! They dominated the first half. Hardly a move or pass went astray. When it did, strong recovery and an impregnable defence held the line. It was a quality team performance that was a joy to watch from the side-line.
The biggest risk in the first-half was the danger of keeper Tom Conway dying from hyperthermia! None the less he was there when needed.
Meanwhile at the other end of the pitch, uncharacteristically, the Highwaymen scored twice from short corners. The first by Ravi Wickramasuriya and the second by Andy Rose both within the first 10 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of the half, Pat Gainey scored twice with emphatic goals, one while facing a way from the goal! These were followed the 5th goal from Josh Clark with a reverse stick shot.
The second half was harder work – most Highwaymen legs are not good for the whole 70 minutes. Messers Maltman, Gilbert and Bowles were brought on. In truth only “Sticky” Bowles made a real impact. Having returned from an ankle operation only match fitness stopped him playing a full half.
Burnt Ash maintained the pressure, their forwards only being thwarted by the defensive unit led by Phil Kinch who single handed prevented them from pulling at least two goals back.
The Highwaymen did not give up and were rewarded with a further two goals from Matt Robinson and Sammy Channa respectively. There could have been more but the opposition defended resolutely.
At the final whistle Burnt Ash were awarded a short corner which they converted in a clinical fashion.
Final score 7-1 to the Highwaymen.
What made this game such a fine example of competitive hockey was two committed, disciplined and talented teams and impeccable umpiring from Rhys and the Burnt Ash umpire.
Man of the match – Phil Kinch.
Squad: Phil Kinch, Ravi Wickramasuriya, Richard Cleall, Steve Miller, Tom Conway GK, Greg Dowse, Sammy Chana, Josh Clark (late replacement for Raj Phull, Matt Robinson, Andy Rose, Pat Gainey, David Maltman, Stephen Gilbert and Steve Bowles
Special mention goes to Team Bowles and Hector Rose for their support on a freezing evening!
The venue was a very cold, floodlight and, remarkably, a dry Dartford pitch.
The opposition was a highly mobile, individually talented and motivated team.
Little did they know that for the first time in seasons, the Highwaymen would really “walk the talk” and do what they said they would do in the pre-match briefing. It was also a surprise for the Highwaymen! They dominated the first half. Hardly a move or pass went astray. When it did, strong recovery and an impregnable defence held the line. It was a quality team performance that was a joy to watch from the side-line.
The biggest risk in the first-half was the danger of keeper Tom Conway dying from hyperthermia! None the less he was there when needed.
Meanwhile at the other end of the pitch, uncharacteristically, the Highwaymen scored twice from short corners. The first by Ravi Wickramasuriya and the second by Andy Rose both within the first 10 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of the half, Pat Gainey scored twice with emphatic goals, one while facing a way from the goal! These were followed the 5th goal from Josh Clark with a reverse stick shot.
The second half was harder work – most Highwaymen legs are not good for the whole 70 minutes. Messers Maltman, Gilbert and Bowles were brought on. In truth only “Sticky” Bowles made a real impact. Having returned from an ankle operation only match fitness stopped him playing a full half.
Burnt Ash maintained the pressure, their forwards only being thwarted by the defensive unit led by Phil Kinch who single handed prevented them from pulling at least two goals back.
The Highwaymen did not give up and were rewarded with a further two goals from Matt Robinson and Sammy Channa respectively. There could have been more but the opposition defended resolutely.
At the final whistle Burnt Ash were awarded a short corner which they converted in a clinical fashion.
Final score 7-1 to the Highwaymen.
What made this game such a fine example of competitive hockey was two committed, disciplined and talented teams and impeccable umpiring from Rhys and the Burnt Ash umpire.
Man of the match – Phil Kinch.
Squad: Phil Kinch, Ravi Wickramasuriya, Richard Cleall, Steve Miller, Tom Conway GK, Greg Dowse, Sammy Chana, Josh Clark (late replacement for Raj Phull, Matt Robinson, Andy Rose, Pat Gainey, David Maltman, Stephen Gilbert and Steve Bowles
Special mention goes to Team Bowles and Hector Rose for their support on a freezing evening!
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