In a day that promised plenty with blue skies and a buoyant squad after last weeks win at Eastbourne, BE hit the road (Jack) for the 3rd time in 4 weeks. Lady Luck had deserted the squad to this point and she had no intentions turning up at Wishbourne Road for yet another awkward encounter.

The home side had their tails up also having beaten Horsham the week before and looked back to full strength with not only 15 men, a Gaffa and a camera man to boot, as the whistle blew, the heavens closed over and it poured down like there was no tomorrow. Edd’s decision to wear jeans and cloth trainers was looking ropey at best as the bags were hurriedly pushed under the dugout protection.

For the 2nd game in a row, anearly corner and an early goal, Rocket Wilson had his drag saved, only for Dave Lawrence to upright mega slap 1st time into the goal through a mass of bodies and GK. 1-0, looking good and the ball moving around nicely. 2 more PC’s would yield a low stick save from the home GK and a deflection save from a Speller special, that some how resulted in a free hit against when a PS should have been awarded for the elbow in the back (video available), in addition to that, the 2nd PC of the day probably should have been a PS too as Speller was upended on the penalty spot when about to shoot (video not available). 3 strokes we should have had this season now and none given. Couple that with a number of D injections that resulted in us kicking it, we were destined to not put the game to bed.

1-0 half time.

The second half was a much tougher affair and full credit to the home side who not only pressed hard but also nicked the ball out of possession a lot and caused us some real issues. BE did fashion 2 excellent corners where Ed Bull was a gnats hair away from a 2nd and both Arch and Morri nearly reverse bladed into the goal, whiskers away. (Video available). As the 55 min mark arrived, BE broke and some nice work by Ludo and Morri found Dave L who rolled his man, wrong footed the keeper and found just the wrong side of the bottom corner back board. So close and nearly time to stoke the steam train fires, but the coals had to be put on ice!

The home side continued to grow into the game. And the last 15 minutes belonged to them. They had stayed in the game and went at a mentally tired BE. Unable to think clearly and strategically on our feet, BE invited pressure with numerous turn overs, an air shot and a missed tap in at the far post by Woking looked to have saved our blushes and as we finally made our way out of the press, we looked to have forged the winning moment, a 3 on 2, down the right, opportunity to put the game to bed but the ball across only located the touch line on the far side rather than a BE tap in.

30 seconds remained, we worked it nicely out through the left and into the forward line, as we carried it towards their 23, a protective stick block was called, turn over and with 15 seconds on the clock, disaster struck. A rushed yet impressive airial from the Woking RB was heading down the middle and with BE causing their own confusion, the ball somehow found it’s way to the Woking forward who rifled the ball in via JC’s very decent attempt at keeping it out as he got something but not enough on it. 1-1, push back taken, final whistle goes. Exhausted, gutted, but some what relieved that, having not put the game to bed when we could have, the last 15 mins didn’t result in something a great deal worse.

On reflection, we were really good in the first half and against a good organised side. We made it hard for ourselves by not scoring the goals we could have and then had to ride our luck somewhat in the final stages. It goes to show, keeping a clean sheet in hockey is tough, not scoring your chances keeps the oppo interested and ultimately, this was a good away point that on one day could have been all 3, but also could have also been even harder to take.

A little break now before we go again!