Last week provided ample post-match enthusiasm amongst players and fans alike at College Meadow, as a last gasp goal from Ian ‘Handbags’ Harvey enabled BE to start the season with a well-deserved three points. While last week was many peoples first glimpse of Tom Archer smiling on a hockey pitch since promotion from Kent/Sussex 1, it was coach Nikki Alexander-Lloyd who created headlines after avoiding the post-match press conference as rumours circulated about the possible return of an Enigma in the Hockey World. News travels fast, and as the Tabloids were published early on Sunday morning, pictures emerged of a “plump” journeyman nestled in the packed stands at College Meadow. While Gareth Bale’s return to Spurs had a prolonged build-up and the romantic pre-tense of a Jane Austin novel, Michael Lawrence’s abrupt return to training on Tuesday night was no doubt a surprise to many, and more representative of a hockey remake of a scene in Mike Bassett: Football Manager. Nonetheless, as the Team targets win after win, and ultimately a league title, it’s a stark reminder of the strength in depth at the club, and the stiff competition for places that challenges us all to perform at every session and in every game.

With a leisurely 3pm start, the boys ventured southwards to Eastbourne, some by Train and some by Car. A place well-known for past residents Theresa May and the legendary Michael Fish - it is steeped in a severe (lack of) meaningful past – but for those with an ear for History, Eastbourne Pier was built in 1872 and suffered a “devastating fire” in 2014. I digress…

With the sky a dull grey, it was Michael Fish’s absence that would prove costly to Eastbourne… Many years on, the Hurricane that he so famously forecasted, was about to hit. From defence to attack it was a whirlwind start to the game from Blackheath. The defensive transfers were slick, and Captain Lewis Burnham and his midfield counterparts dictated the tempo of the game, with neat triangular link up play penetrating the Eastbourne midfield lines. It took patience but after a number of unsuccessful corner routines, Eastbourne succumbed to a well executed goal from the top right hand corner of the D, as Harv hit across goal past a helpless Eastbourne goalkeeper.

The young man’s day wasn’t about to get better, and after Chris Harden doubled our lead, it was the third goal which proved a unique hybrid of atrocious, confused, yet well executed umpiring, as the BE skipper coerced the young umpire into giving us a (deserved) Penalty Flick. With Chris Harden ready to step up, Ian Harvey substituted himself onto the pitch, and in an episode akin to “taking candy from a baby”, Chris returned to the half way line disheartened, only to see Harv dispatch the PF into the top right. 3-0!
It was added fuel to the fire for Chris Harden though as we entered the Second half, and while Eastbourne did return with a single goal that BOE will undoubtedly be disappointed with, 3 more goals followed, two for Chris Harden and one for Steve Roche, crafted by some intuitive short corner coaching from Nikki Alexander Lloyd, and equally cute forward play from Dave Lawrence.
BE left the South Coast with a by no means over-flattering 6-1 score line. A real team performance - and with London Academicals next weekend, there’s no doubt the squad will be hungry for a third win out of 3.