Life's a Beach

BOEHC U16 vs Sevenoaks U16 AWAY @ Sevenoaks School
- Sunday 3rd November


A wild and windy Sunday morning greeted the brave Blackheath & OE’s U16 lads who ventured down to Sevenoaks for their second game of the season. The foreboding and prestigious Sevenoaks School was the chosen venue but none of us were quite prepared for the ‘beach-like’ conditions we faced on arrival. The pitch was more akin to the Beach Volleyball courts we can expect to see on Copacabana seafront at the Rio Olympics than the smooth, flat, synthetic surfaces we are accustomed to at College Meadow and the like. Apparently the storm a few weeks ago was to blame for the puzzling ‘Sand Dune’ scenario but perhaps somebody needs to inform the groundsman a brush and roll as opposed to a bucket and spade is urgently needed.

Those members who can recall the Coldharbour Sports Centre pitch or further afield The Jacky Bakers ground will have some idea of the awful conditions on show.

Nevertheless, the lads knuckled down to a warm up and we shared a few words on the extra vigilance and skill required to negotiate what was going to be a slow, uneven and unpredictable pitch. A few enforced positional changes due to the loss of RB Noel Fernandes were sorted and we were raring to go.

It was great to see a young U16 Umpire from Sevenoaks officiate and he did a terrific job throughout alongside BOE Legend James Hatcher.

With Jason Loveless’s GK kit still making its way down the A20 he nervously started as a Kicking Back complete with face mask and shin pads. This exciting new role lasted approx. 30 secs as Dominic Lester soon sprinted onto the scene dutifully dragging the AWOL kitbag behind him and Jason proceeded to don the more comfortable attire.

The game began at quite a pace and both sides carved out some early scoring opportunities with both GK’s needing to be extra vigilant to keep the score level. Each team had a number of skilful individuals who managed to make a few dangerous runs into the opposition half but these mazy runs were snuffed out by some solid defending. In particular Nick Smith at CB from the first minute to the last demonstrated composure, confidence and athleticism as he intercepted and mopped up the majority of what Sevenoaks threw at Blackheath. A number of vital tackles and steals helped secure him a deserved MOTM.

Although BOE had the better of the first half they were guilty of holding onto the ball too long, channelling everything through the middle and diving into tackles. The team just wasn’t clicking and doing the simple things well enough. A number of scoring chances went begging as a few too many ‘rushes of blood to the head’ from the forwards and miss-timed shots went flashing by. However, Jake Lamplough and Manraj Gill were linking very well in midfield and some penetrating runs from Joe Battle and Michael Wickenden down the wings were good signs. It was a difficult pitch to execute basic skills on and a great deal of stumbling and mistakes were made. On the whole it was a lot of effort but with very little to show for it. BOE were lucky to go into half time on equal terms as an excellently struck shot from the Sevenoaks ‘dangerman’ struck the post just before the break.

Some choice words about using the transfer round the back of defence, getting the ball wide, using the high leads to get in beyond the opp were discharged and a little tactical and positional jiggery pokery were the half time orders.

However, it wasn’t long before the Coach had his head in his hands as Sevenoaks caught BOE napping and nicked two goals in 5 minutes. The half time words and ideas hadn’t seeped into the players and looks of bewilderment were cast about. It was crunch time and this game was in the balance - a defeat or a fightback?

Thankfully it was the latter and the Sevenoaks goals seemed to finally stir the slumbering BOE machine into action. What followed in the final 15 minutes was some outstanding hockey from the team as they attempted to make up for the previous 55mins of frustration. Excellent battling spirit was shown by all as they tried to haul themselves back into the game. Jack Harrison stood firm at the back, Nick Smith spread the ball out of defence with aplomb. Dominic Lester, Ben Coward and Nick Bordeaux put in sterling shifts as rotating full backs and Jason Loveless marshalled his area with authority. Great link up play from Charlie Nelson down the right and tireless running from Sam Lanham Hathaway paid immediate dividends as Sam swept the ball into the net following some slick passing to reduce the deficit. He roared in celebration as he final got the goal he wanted after being wasteful early on. This really got the BOE Boys bubbling as they sensed an equalizer. Jake Owen who had been moved into the midfield began to take control of the game in the centre and released the ball early to devastating effect. The forwards ploughed the wide channels and BOE looked dominant. An equalizer looked inevitable.

The goal that drew the teams level was a thing of sublime beauty and worthy of any Senior Men’s team in the club. Nick Smith strode forwards and found Jake Owen near the centre circle with an inch perfect pass. He rolled away, beat his man and laid the ball to Charlie Nelson who immediately fed the cantering Joe Battle down the left wing. Some slick one touch passing between the fwds dissected the Sevenoaks defence and snuck Joe in around the back on the base line to slip a 90 degree ball under his arm for Jake Owen to beat his man and slot underneath the keeper for a sumptuous equalizer. Text book stuff. Movement, pace and one touch passing with a clinical finish. Why hadn’t the lads done this earlier the assembled parents and coaches asked each other? The BOE lads now had the bit between their teeth and were desperate to clinch a winner but their new found desire came too late as the final whistle blew and they had to be content with a battling and well-earned draw.

Many lessons to be learnt and to their credit the lads themselves identified where we went wrong in our post match analysis. Switching on from the off, playing as a team, ball pace, early release and using the wide channels are the fundamentals we must improve. If we are to beat the very strong Canterbury in our next game (something we’re more than capable of) we must player much, much better and to our true abilities.

Team: Jason Loveless (GK), Dominic Lester, Jack Harrison, Jake Owen (Capt), Nick Smith, Ben Coward, Manraj Gill, Jake Lamplough, Joe Battle, Sam Lanham Hathaway, Michael Wickenden, Finlay McCoy, Charlie Nelson, Nicholas Bordeaux.

Goals: Sam Lanham Hathaway, Jake Owen

MOTM: Nick Smith