EARLY MORNING BLUES

After a solid win last weekend, Blackheath 3s where determined to carry the positives in to this game against Sevenoaks. After having to change the squad around last minute, and losing a player on the morning of the game we still remained positive.

Blackheath came out strong and retained possession well. The forwards got in to some good positions against a very solid Sevenoaks side, who had some experienced players in their ranks. We did not get any reward for this initial phase of pressure and Sevenoaks got themselves a foothold in the game. James Florence made some great saves in goal, as well as some dogged defending from Dom Lester and Iain Mclean kept the game at 0 - 0. This was not long lived, as the Sevenoaks centre forward managed to squeeze a reverse stick effort in at the near post. We got ourselves together and managed to force some pressure of our own. This translated into a short corner where the Sevenoaks defender managed to get to the top of the D quickly and close down the flick from the top by captain Ram Basra, but it fell very nicely for him, and he fired the ball in to the roof of the net. 1 - 1 and we went in to half time satisfied.

The word at half time was to keep going as we are, but to retain possession in the opposition half. Safe to say we didn't manage to do this, and let Sevenoaks pressurize us which led to their 2nd goal. The troops rallied, and we pushed for that equalizer. We forced another short corner which hit a player on the line, but before the umpire could give a flick, Ben Ireland dispatched the ball in to the net for the equalizer.

At this point Blackheath where buoyed and energised going for the win. As we pushed for the winner we got caught out on the break and the Sevenoaks forward finished clinically. Once again we pushed for the equaliser and got in to some very good positions high up the pitch, with time running out we where awarded a short corner. And this was to be the final act of the game as the final whistle blew. Captain Basra stepped up to see if he could get the equaliser, but his drag flick went just agonisingly wide.

Another harsh lesson learnt against an experienced team that finished off their chances. Onwards and upwards as we look to put all the pieces together in one game.