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Sat 11 Feb 2017 ·  Kent Area Division 2
Mens 3rd XIHolcombe [5] 3
T Baldwin (55')
1
0
THREE'S TURN THE TIDE
Matt Wilde20 Feb 2017 - 01:05
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After a series of disappointing results & narrow defeats the Mighty 3s find the winning feeling again.
This has been a frustrating season for the Mighty 3s. A new Skipper and a very new look team has taken a long time to settle but this victory is perhaps a sign that this talented group of players are beginning to find their feet. It was only their 4 victory of the season which has seen them lose 5 games 3-2. Yes, 5! The Hockey Gods haven't been kind in this respect. One goal margin defeats are hard to accept so the Mighty 3s have been desperate to reverse that outcome.
As any good Coach/Manager/Captain will tell you 11 individually good and able players doesn't win you matches. Teams do. The ability to gel, cooperate, unify, understand and work together is the key. There are many factors that make running this team tricky. There is no doubt that this squad is jam packed full of quality players from young and gifted teenagers through to experienced and skilled seniors who have played at high levels. But finding a cohesive style, approach and togetherness can take time. Also, many in this squad cannot train regularly due to work, study and travel commitments (otherwise it's fair to say many would play much higher if they did). With the Mighty 3s also serving as the 'entry point' for our most promising U18 into the top level Men's teams and providing back up to the 1s and 2s the Captain is often faced with a fluid and unpredictable selection process. This is usual for teams in the middle of a club but doesn't make it any easier to manage. But enough of the context and onto the game
This display was one of the best the team has made. The narrow 1-0 scoreline belies the dominance the Club had in the game. With better finishing, composure and cleverness in the final 23 plus a slice more luck the score would've been 5 or 6 to the good. The team defended and tacked as a unit, did the simple things well and played the wide channels much more fruitfully than they had the week before. The Holcs players (Gaz and his chaps are always good lads to play against at this level) were very magnanimous afterwards and were astounded how we didn't bag more goals. Its safe to say we missed numerous chances to score and the Holcs GK was very busy but we won't list and dwell on the ones that got away. We'll take the win and the positivities of creating so many scoring chances and being water tight in defence. Holcombe rarely threatened the BOE goal and their young CF who has caused our backline all manner of problems in the past was starved of service and rarely touched the ball. This is credit to an excellent CH performance from Dan Moore who marshalled the centre of the field with simple and effective hockey. Holding possession and rolling the ball out left or right to instigate another attack. He was ably supported by MOTM Ben Heggarty who is fast proving to be one of the Clubs most exciting young teenagers and likely to make the next step up to the 2nd XI soon. His boundless energy, tenacity, fitness and smart passing was a key to the endless stream of attacks BOE conjured. With Paddy Ferguson making not only his 3s debut but also his debut at LB (injuries and half term absence causing full back droughts) and David Forsyth drafted into a very unfamiliar RB role plus the Club Chairman playing his first League game of the season at CB after a lengthy injury lay-off you'd be excused for thinking the backline looked suspect. However, the lads did themselves proud with Skipper Ram Basra holding it all together as the other CB. They were solid and resolute and snuffed out the few chances Holcs created. It wasn't all plain sailing but some full blooded tackling and body on the line antics were thrown into a Gladiatorial mix defending including a masterful Prop forward style sliding tackle (he won the ball!) from Matt Wilde which won him the DOTD award. Ali Basham was the team's Dynamo slotting into the midfield and effortlessly relieving an exhausted Paddy at LB. He was everywhere and as adept in the tackle as he was taking on their CB. Young Toby Baldwin (again full of potential) was excellent at RF and scored the only goal with great skill and composure. A great break away move down the right saw the ball upgraded and shifted left. It was quickly pinged back right and a ferocious shot on goal saw the ball deflect and loop up towards the left post. The GK swiped and missed to leave Toby free on the line to adeptly control, juggle and hook the ball into the net. Calm finish from the youngster. The was the least the team deserved and a sigh of relief was felt across the team. To come away with nothing less than 3 points would've been a massive blow and this goal held at bay some of those fears. There were a few nervous moments in the last minute were a dangerous turn over at the top of the D looked likely but some direct interception from the Skipper put paid to that. It was a very uncomplicated game full of passing and movement and plenty of running off the ball. These elements won the lads the game. More of this please.
The match was superbly officiated by Ed Thorogood who had little interference to make in a fast, free flowing game full of advantage and brandished no cards. Big thanks to him.
As any good Coach/Manager/Captain will tell you 11 individually good and able players doesn't win you matches. Teams do. The ability to gel, cooperate, unify, understand and work together is the key. There are many factors that make running this team tricky. There is no doubt that this squad is jam packed full of quality players from young and gifted teenagers through to experienced and skilled seniors who have played at high levels. But finding a cohesive style, approach and togetherness can take time. Also, many in this squad cannot train regularly due to work, study and travel commitments (otherwise it's fair to say many would play much higher if they did). With the Mighty 3s also serving as the 'entry point' for our most promising U18 into the top level Men's teams and providing back up to the 1s and 2s the Captain is often faced with a fluid and unpredictable selection process. This is usual for teams in the middle of a club but doesn't make it any easier to manage. But enough of the context and onto the game
This display was one of the best the team has made. The narrow 1-0 scoreline belies the dominance the Club had in the game. With better finishing, composure and cleverness in the final 23 plus a slice more luck the score would've been 5 or 6 to the good. The team defended and tacked as a unit, did the simple things well and played the wide channels much more fruitfully than they had the week before. The Holcs players (Gaz and his chaps are always good lads to play against at this level) were very magnanimous afterwards and were astounded how we didn't bag more goals. Its safe to say we missed numerous chances to score and the Holcs GK was very busy but we won't list and dwell on the ones that got away. We'll take the win and the positivities of creating so many scoring chances and being water tight in defence. Holcombe rarely threatened the BOE goal and their young CF who has caused our backline all manner of problems in the past was starved of service and rarely touched the ball. This is credit to an excellent CH performance from Dan Moore who marshalled the centre of the field with simple and effective hockey. Holding possession and rolling the ball out left or right to instigate another attack. He was ably supported by MOTM Ben Heggarty who is fast proving to be one of the Clubs most exciting young teenagers and likely to make the next step up to the 2nd XI soon. His boundless energy, tenacity, fitness and smart passing was a key to the endless stream of attacks BOE conjured. With Paddy Ferguson making not only his 3s debut but also his debut at LB (injuries and half term absence causing full back droughts) and David Forsyth drafted into a very unfamiliar RB role plus the Club Chairman playing his first League game of the season at CB after a lengthy injury lay-off you'd be excused for thinking the backline looked suspect. However, the lads did themselves proud with Skipper Ram Basra holding it all together as the other CB. They were solid and resolute and snuffed out the few chances Holcs created. It wasn't all plain sailing but some full blooded tackling and body on the line antics were thrown into a Gladiatorial mix defending including a masterful Prop forward style sliding tackle (he won the ball!) from Matt Wilde which won him the DOTD award. Ali Basham was the team's Dynamo slotting into the midfield and effortlessly relieving an exhausted Paddy at LB. He was everywhere and as adept in the tackle as he was taking on their CB. Young Toby Baldwin (again full of potential) was excellent at RF and scored the only goal with great skill and composure. A great break away move down the right saw the ball upgraded and shifted left. It was quickly pinged back right and a ferocious shot on goal saw the ball deflect and loop up towards the left post. The GK swiped and missed to leave Toby free on the line to adeptly control, juggle and hook the ball into the net. Calm finish from the youngster. The was the least the team deserved and a sigh of relief was felt across the team. To come away with nothing less than 3 points would've been a massive blow and this goal held at bay some of those fears. There were a few nervous moments in the last minute were a dangerous turn over at the top of the D looked likely but some direct interception from the Skipper put paid to that. It was a very uncomplicated game full of passing and movement and plenty of running off the ball. These elements won the lads the game. More of this please.
The match was superbly officiated by Ed Thorogood who had little interference to make in a fast, free flowing game full of advantage and brandished no cards. Big thanks to him.
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