MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

There’s been a real buzz surrounding match reports in recent weeks. The literary creations of strikers Surry and Milky have attracted attention from worldly scholars, and have since been introduced into English GCSE syllabuses across our green and pleasant lands.

These have been a welcome distraction from the disappointing results the team have experienced this season after a string of ‘could’ve / should’ve’ games have put the Mighty 3s second from bottom and fighting for their lives to avoid relegation.

The team have been threatening to ‘come good’ for weeks and have played some fantastic hockey but a bit of misfortune, inconsistency and bad habits have hindered that outcome.

However, the visit of bottom side Old Bordenians with a solitary point (courtesy of our goodselves when we threw away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 with them by conceding from a PC in the last minute earlier in the season!!) promised to be the game to turn the tide. Despite Old B’s lowly league position they are a strong club and on their day can put out sides that can beat most teams. They were up for it and started strong but…..boy oh boy, did the Mighty 3s bring their ‘A’ game! The lads swept away all their frustration, impotency and anger in a display of devastating ruthlessness with a stonking 7-1 victory that should’ve (there’s that word again!!) been more!!

With Talismanic Elder Matt Wilde missing at CB through injury a re-jig saw young LH Dom Lester step into his shoes. It’s true to say he played a sublime game of maturity, efficiency and skill. The combination of his pace and energy coupled with the wily and cool-headed ways of other CB: Skipper Ders Baillie (who decided not to continue his recent on going trial for FC Barcelona which has seen him kick and trap the ball with his feet more times than Man U Prop forward Marouane Fellaini) was a perfect match. On this display this pairing will be hard to break and Wilde may find himself sent out to pasture with the Vets or made into glue.

The Mighty 3s scored early as Chris Brown did what he’s been threatening to do for a while. Namely stop dribbling, receive the ball on edge of the D with his back to goal, turn strong, and shoot early by unleashing a shot into the bottom left of the goal. 1-0.

Then the turning point. BOEHC had several chances to increase their lead but were a tad tardy with possession in the middle of the pitch. An unnecessary turnover saw Old B’s break into the 23. A series of missed tackles and kamikaze lunges enabled the Oppo to weave into the D, cross on the baseline for the Giant-like OBHC CF to tap into an open goal. Devastating. 1-1.
Now, we’ve been here many times before and the creeping feeling that the team were about to undo and throw away their good start yet again was tangible. Make or break time. Same old story?
Not today. The lads stepped it up. Focused their game and with Luke Kellaher at CH pulling the strings the Mighty 3s upped and galloped off with the desire for goals pumping through their hearts.

It was an excellent display of team hockey against an Opposition who never gave up and fought for goals at every opportunity hitting the BOE woodwork on several occasions. But their advances were repelled and the ‘Hockey Gods’ saw fit to shine on BOE for a change.

Glorious highlights from a super game:
Chris Fowler scored an absolute blinder of absolute quality from the top of the D on his reverse stick. He gushed afterwards “That’s the best goal I’ve ever scored in my whole life!” Bless.

Chris Brown added another to his with an almost identical finish to his first - Stopped dribbling, received the ball on edge of the D with his back to goal, turned strong and shot early, unleashing his effort into the bottom right of the goal.

Young 15yr old starlet Josh Self was on fire and showed most players on the pitch; BOE and the Oppo, how to play simple, clinical, devastating hockey of the highest standard. His sublime goal was the epitome of all that was good. He made a neat one two outside the D. Received the ball and cleverly slid past a defender by dropping his shoulder before side steppingbthe opposite way. He drew the on rushing GK, feinted one way, then the other before mugging him off completely by turning full circle and flicking the ball powerfully into the goal That goal and his overall performance clinched him a very worthy Man of the Match Award.

Nick Surry contributed his customary 2 Good 2 Bad. Both his goals were excellent with the second hooked in from the baseline from the most impossible and acutest angles under unbelievable pressure. His several fluffed chances including a DOTD winning effort that saw his almighty reverse effort (attempting to emulate Fowler!) sail from far left of the D to high right and hit the floodlight brought great laughter to all.

Lewys ‘Milky’Taylor had a very good game using the ball far more constructively and resisting the temptation (just about) to take on everybody. His pass and move was lethal. He was justly rewarded with a fantastic goal as his diving deflection launched the ball into the roof of the net. Top class.

There were good performances all round with Nick Smith getting better every week as a true attacking RB who gives the 3s a real threat as he canters down the wing but combines it with a defensive work rate second to none.

Joint Captain David ‘Gobbler’ Golbey continues to roll back the years at LH and IL as he shows just why he was a mainstay of the 1st XI for so many seasons. Pure class.
David Forsyth and Luke Kellaher in midfield were efficient Generals winning and distributing with aplomb.
New addition Tristan Lacon-Allin playing his third game for the team showed all the qualities of his SA coaching as he did the simple things really well. I mean really well. Passing and moving with the ball with utter ease.

Jason Loveless between the sticks made a string of super saves with outstanding athleticism and command the D with great authority. No clean sheet but not far off.

Massive thank you to Annette Golding who Umpired with great authority, lucidity and clarity. Excellent officiating in a competitive, free flowing game.

Final score was 7-1. It was a hugely improved performance from the team. The Mighty 3s must now ride this momentum and embrace the self belief for their remaining games as they seek to turn their season around. Hopefully the penny has dropped and this result will be a turning point as we fight for survival in the business end of the season. It’s in our hands.

Excellent work lads, let’s go again.