A sense of Deja Vu...........

Blackheath 3s travelled the long distance to Herne Bay with a much changed squad for this week.

The team spent the warm up mostly trying to get used to a pitch that proved very challenging to play the quick hockey we are getting used too.

Blackheath enjoyed some early pressure and created a few half chances, but as similar to our other 3 - 2 defeats this year, let Herne Bay go straight up the other end of the pitch and score a scrappy goal. This seemed to spur the team in to action and a superb run by Rikesh Patel from Centre Back up the other end of the pitch, a trade mark slap at high pace, and a deft touch in the D by Charlie Nelson and we got back on terms.

The game was very up and down from here on in for the rest of the half and HB put some pressure on the Blackheath back line. This led to a short corner, which the attacking team scored from. Again Blackheath kicked in to another gear and pressurised the HB backline, with Ben Hegarty putting in another excellent game in midfield. Some good attacking play led to Nick Surry putting away a chance from short distance and we where back on level terms.

Blackheath's hal time team talk was clear, and to continue to play hockey, and get clinical in attack. From the off we dominated possession and really tested the HB defence. This resulted in a lot of possession and some very good chances, the most notable a fantastic reverse hit shot which was destined for the roof, but somehow deflected off the line by a defender away to safety.

A tiring HB had resorted to long ball attacking, and it was one of these long balls which found the HB attacker all alone on our 25, and despite Jason's best efforts to save, against the run of play scored the decisive and winning goal. 3 times in 4 games where we had dominated a 2nd half and let in a late goal to lose the game. Still, there are a lot of positives to take with the way the team is playing. Its only a matter of time before performance is reflected in results. We go to National League and Table topping side Holcombe next week, expecting another tough game.