HIGHWAYMEN DO CLUB PROUD

BEHC Highwaymen 2 BBHC Men's 3s 0

On previous occasions when the Highwaymen have needed a result in the final match of the season (e.g. 2015-2016 vs. Burnt Ash, 2018-2019 vs. BEHC Dynamos), they have tended to come up short, ending up third on goal difference or by a solitary point.  The denouement to the 2019-2020 was a little different, however, with the men in red being the hunted rather than the hunter, and the only prize at stake being the retention of 3rd slot, as the top two positions in the table had already been decided two weeks ago.  Nevertheless, needing just a point, they went two better and secured a win to record their second-highest points total in an 18-game season.

In a low-key game where BBHC fielded far more of a development squad and was virtually unrecognisable from the team that had swept most of the opposition in Division 2 before it prior to the Christmas break, it was the home side who edged home rather less than convincingly, even if an away win never really looked on the cards.  There was lots of huff and puff and bad luck, such as when the industrious, but luckless, Matt Robinson smacked the crossbar, but it was again a case of the home side treating the ball as if it might be carrying the Corona Virus and seemingly handing it back to the opposition at every available opportunity.  The home side always carried a threat, nevertheless, even if it took a penalty flick and the talismanic Tony Mitchell to settle the nerves and put the team 1-0 up at the break.

The introduction of Phil Bunker at the interval - one of a trio of stars who by necessity had returned from a previous engagement in Folkestone ending only 90 minutes earlier - settled things down a bit, but the talented youngsters from BBHC never threw in the towel as the game spread out even more from end to end.  It was eventually - and perhaps inevitably - down to the aforementioned Tony Mitchell to get a vital touch on a short corner to double the lead and secure third spot as the clock hit 51 minutes.  Further chances came and went, but the score remained the same, with the defence desperate to record a respectable fifth clean sheet of the league season.  Clearly the home midfielders felt that their defensive colleagues needed a bit of practice on short corners and happily continued to hand over possession at regular intervals.  The total of shorts conceded was rapidly heading towards double figures as full time approached, but man-of-the-match Rupert Greaves parried, sat on, smothered and deflected anything that came his way, which fortunately excluded any small attackers on this occasion.  The back four were excellent all game.

The sports writers were licking the tips of their pencils once again for the fairytale "And Gilbert must score ..." headline, but sadly it was not to be - he'll just have to come back and do it all over again in the 2020-2021 season, after oh-so-narrowly missing out on a couple of far post opportunities: brilliant positional play again from Stephen Gilbert, but no slice of luck for a goal-bound tonic.

So what of the end-of-term report?  All in all, 2019-2020 was an excellent season full of great competitive hockey in a much stronger Division 2 than last year.  It was always going to feel strange with keeper Tom Conway moving on after four years between the sticks, but Rupert Greaves' comeback has given the team a massive boost both on and off the pitch, his quiet wisdom having a calming, therapeutic and soothing affect on the defenders with "previous records" in front of him.  Richard Cleall has been brilliant again (and let Rupert do the talking), whilst Phil Kinch had another very consistent and rock-steady season at right back.  In the other two-thirds of the pitch Tony Mitchell's return to action had a major impact on the team's fortunes, as a combination of his individual inspiration and the team's defensive obduracy squeezed out some unlikely last-gasp wins.  Ravi Wickramasuriya stayed fit and had a highly memorable season out wide on the right, while the two new close-season signings, Phil Bunker and Ed Smyth, improved the balance of the team no end. Ed, in particular, has played in just about every position on the pitch for the Highwaymen, other than as an outright forward or goalkeeper, proving that "utility players" are invaluable at any level.  And up front, Matt Robinson had a fantastic 20-goal season, without which the team would have struggled.  Having an individual netting 40% of the team's goals is fine, but he could do with a bit more assistance in 2020-2021.  The unsung heroes who are there in all seasons, whatever the weather, whoever the opposition are always the backbone of the team: Pat Gainey ... we salute you. And as for the "bad boys" this year?  Sammy Chana did not disappoint and remained true to form with his regular exclusions to the naughty chair for alleged verbal pearls of wisdom and overzealous appeals.  However, even he was probably outshone by the team's midfield maestro and playmaker supreme, Andy Rose, who - if he were looking for a stage name as a soul singer - could doubtless re-christen himself as Clinton Hallmark, such is his apparent delight in receiving cards.  Thanks too are also due to those individuals who for a variety of reasons only played a handful of games for the team in 2019-2020.

But the final word has to go to the team's captain and spiritual leader, Stephen Gilbert: " ... we few, we happy few, we band of brothers - for whoever sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother.  Says it all. Thanks, Highwaymen".

How true.

Team:
Rupert Greaves (GK), Tim Walters, Phil Kinch, Richard Cleall, Stephen Gilbert, Ravi Wickramasuriya, Andy Rose, Tony Mitchell, Rod Harrington, D'Cruz "the Younger", Pat Gainey, Phil Bunker, Matt Robinson and Tony D'Cruz.

Man-of-the-match:
Rupert Greaves - just edged the vote after a low turn out at the polls.  Had a fine game, faced plenty of shorts, and earned a deserved clean sheet.

Umpires:
Both Mark Ainley and the visiting umpire had very good games in a match played in fine spirit throughout.  One of the very few disappointing aspects of this season, however, has been the umpiring performances against certain opponents, whilst the standard, integrity of impartiality of our own officials has never once come into question.  It would be fair to say that this in no way impacted upon where the team should, and did, in fact, end up in the table, but poor umpiring did at times threaten to spoil individual games and actually "create" problems where there were none.  But hats off and many thanks to our own BEHC umpiring community for their time, dedication and sacrifice for what is often a very thankless task.