MORE MEDIOCORE THAN MIGHTY

With poor availability and injuries in the top three teams the Mighty 3s plan to use this final pre-season run out as a test for a possible starting XI when the league begins next week were left in tatters. So it was that a bare 11 made their way to Marden with two club debutants in their number. A 1hr 45m round trip via Croydon to pick up David Golbey so he could umpire prevented us having to play with 10. Nevertheless the 11 ‘International’ players on the pitch were all good and competent enough to win this game against a Marden team used to playing our 5th XI. However, it’s safe to say that 75% of the squad were far from fit enough, sharp enough or switched on enough to make this supposed superiority count. Three or four players who hadn’t picked up a stick for 4 to 18 months realised that the game was harder than they remembered as their feet wanted to kick the ball and their brains wanted to give it away.

The first 10 mins was a lacklustre affair of sleepy, unfocused and uncoordinated running around by BOE. Marden had a young, ‘Big Unit’ at CF (think a 17yr old Phil Goode or a stand in England Rugby Front Row) who wasn’t particularly mobile but could hit a ball. Marden managed to waltz past a static and slow BOE defence twice and found the Big Unit at the top of the D. He clubbed the ball with a thwack and it found the backboard twice. I don’t think he did much else in the entire match after that exertion but it was enough to put Marden 2-0 up. BOE weren’t being sharp enough in their marking or pressurising the free hit taker or ball carrier and thus allowing them acres of space. Wayward and kamikaze passing through Oppo forehands was killing us.

The sudden deficit seemed to wake the Mighty 3s from their slumber like a commuter sipping their first extra shot Caramel Latte of the morning and they began to take control. BOE had the bulk of the possession from there on in and were rarely troubled at the back apart from a few counter attacks. But for all the huff and puff the goal conversions didn’t come. There were some good moments of passing and intelligent hockey and glimpses of what some players could do once they were match fit. We pulled ourselves level with goals from Veteran forward Chris Brown and debutant Omar Panesar either side of half time with skilled and adept close range finishes but with 16 shots on goal the 2 from 16 stat isn’t great. The Marden GK was kept very busy and did pull off a string of great saves, although we did make him look even better by launching the ball at him as opposed to the large spaces either side of him! It must be said Chris Brown could’ve sealed the win with a blistering shot from the top of the D that was rising slowly towards the top corner with the GK stranded but David Forsyth inexplicably ran across its flight path and denied us the winner with his backside making a fine block. Automatic DOTD award in one victory denying moment from the Scotsman.

In fairness to the lads it was hard to maintain a full press and the hustle and bustle tactic in the front line we like to play with without any subs. But we gave it a go for parts of the match and demonstrated its value as we forced many turnovers and mistakes from the Oppo. We tweaked our formation sensibly and most players improved as the game went on. Although we didn’t convert enough of our chances we did at least create plenty which is positive. Our Belgian GK Victor had a fine game in goal and shared the MOTM award with Kiwi newcomer and debutant Jesse Thomas who was industrious throughout. Omar Panesar had a decent debut and start at RM but faded as the game wore on and fitness and a lack of replacements took its toll. Young South African David Broughton showed his worth turning and cutting in dangerously from the left as the game progressed and he remembered how to play this game. Our other South African Rhys Edwards gave a good account of himself at the unfamiliar LH position as he fights for a place in the 3s. It was fantastic to see Archie and Browner reunited in the frontline and although the latter held onto the ball too long in this game the understanding they both have from years of playing together in the higher echelons of the club bodes well for the Mighty 3s and the season ahead.

It will be all change next week with the return of several regular players plus some more new ones for the opening league game. Good selection dilemmas for the Skipper to have. It’ll take a few weeks to find a settled side but there’s plenty of potential and quality available for this team to do very well this season. Get to training, get fit, get sharp and the season will be a cracker.