A Tale of Two Halves

As the 2nd XI go around nominating their respective MOTM and DOTD verdicts, I think to myself, I must be safe from having to recount the days play. Is there a more worthy individual to hold this title for the week? Did Rob get another card? Did Ed miss a sitter at the far post? Did Gurpreet follow something incredible with something btec? All questions with the same answer.

However, the mantle comes to me as the most aesthetically pleasing individual on the team to give the Blackheath Members what they want, an honest and factual undertaking of the afternoon’s proceedings. I apologise in advance if my prose isn’t as forthcoming as more notable DOTD winners such as the new 1st XI waterboy, but I digress, and here’s what happened.

The match started quick; Canterbury were in our faces. Good defending at the back and a quick few saves from the King at the back James Kelly frustrated the Canterbury attack. However, the mounting pressure lead to a short corner. A fine 1st save from Kelly, but a poor clearance saw the ball fire across the goal at the back post and in. 0-1. The next 20 minutes of play from the team could only be described as what as a 2nd XI we have been accustomed to, pure chaos. A yellow card for a very bad tackle saw the most aesthetically pleasing team member sent to the sin bin for 5 mins, much to the crowd’s disappointment. However, the boys stuck firm, and after a very tiring 5 minutes for the 10 men, saw said person after being off for 5 minutes, runback onto the pitch and making a last-ditch tackle on the goal line preventing a goal, but in the process, awarding a Penalty Flick to Canterbury.

To quote Aristotle, _‘Quality is not an act, it’s a habit’_. Up steps James Kelly. Up steps the Canterbury forward. Whistle blown. Flick to the top left. Stick save to left. Monumental.

End of the 1st half.

The second half started much like the 1st with heavy pressure from the Canterbury attack. But after a stern talking at the break from Ed, we started to play hockey. Great passages of play from the young talismans of Ollie Greenhead and Will, put pressure on the Canterbury defence. Marly and Oli pressing hard onto the defence and lots of good ball retention put Blackheath back into the game. A green card for Rob (Sin bin Time for 2019/20: 24 mins) for with what can only be described as a ‘village tackle’ led to a penalty corner which fortunately came to nothing. Canterbury's next short corner however was riffled into the top corner evading both Kelly and Rob's attempts to get something on it. 0-2.
But as like we have done all season we persevered. Great play in the middle by the engines that are Chris, Tom and Fergus saw a foul in the opponents D and a penalty corner awarded. Up steps James Clarke to flick the ball without any intention or grace, off the left post and in. 1-2. This was a pivotal moment; we could see ourselves getting back into the game and the Canterbury defence were tiring. More pressure from both sides saw lots of last-ditch tackles and moments of utter disbelief, such as Ed running away from the ball and Fergus at the end of a green card. However, another short corner saw Rob slide the ball across goal for Dawson to superbly deflect the ball in. 2-2. With the scores level, we sought after the winner. Great inter-play saw a bouncing ball come to Ed at an acute angle to goal. A quick flash of the stick resulted in a good connection but the ball hitting the side netting.

Full time.

MOTM: James Kelly (3rd MOTM performance of the year)
DOTD: Most Aesthetically pleasing player in the 2nd team.

Big shout out to all BEHC members who have come and support us at our home/ away games and cheered us on. We go again next week at BBHC.