Under My Umbrella – Ella ella, ay ay ay.

This game was played in atrocious conditions as the heavens deposited a Biblical style deluge upon the battling Blackheath boys from the moment they left SE12 until their return to civilisation some six hours later.

However, the steely, fighting spirit had returned to the bellies of the assembled 3s and the elements weren’t going to deter them from fulfilling their primary objective: win at all costs.

The hockey played was by no means pretty and at times sheer brute force, persistence and doggedness was the name of the game. But sometimes it is this sort of approach and determination that secures victory. After all there isn’t a column on the League table where points are awarded for flair, panache or elegance. A win is a win is a win. 3 points. Job done. Up to sixth. Thank you very much.

This isn’t to say the 3s don’t have plenty to work on because they do and once again a performance like Saturday’s against better opposition would see a reversal of the scoreline. Still too many mistakes, poor decision making and unforced errors. But there were some positives, some glimmers of better things to come.

Greg Broughton returned to CH and put in a tireless MOTM performance. He bossed the centre of the field and although he wasn’t always offered many immediate options when he masterfully rolled out from the middle he showed great composure and patience whilst waiting for an opening. DOTD was Jake Owen who turned up late after going the scenic route and taking in the picturesque coastal towns of Kent on the way. However, his initial absence gave Jason Barkworth the opportunity to begin at LB and it was from his excellent aerial that BOE took the lead. It was played down the right channel to the industrious Rob Miller who controlled the ball well before feeding John Townsend at the top of the D. He in turned slipped in Chris Brown under his arm who skilfully wobbled across to the left before dispatching an inch perfect shot across the hapless Goalkeeper into the far side of the goal. 1-0 BOE.

As each side laboured through the literal storm a number of opportunities to equalise or go two up fell to each team but neither could capitalise. There was a great deal of huff and puff but little end product. Sam Hannon had of a series of excellent multiple save moments. Although he did make it more difficult for himself by clearing, kicking or padding the ball directly to an opposition player and thus inviting another shot on every occasion. Perhaps he was trying to boost his ‘save’ stats, felt invincible or was just plain wreckless? Whatever the reason he kept them all out and BOE were grateful that Cliftonville had a very poor PC routine as the several they secured came to nothing but could’ve put the BOE boys in trouble. A welcome half time came as BOE gathered themselves. We were defending well (if a little deep) and soaking up (literally) all they came with but we weren’t very creative going forwards and the play stalled in the final 25. Skipper Matt Wilde spoke calmly about remaining focused on the job in hand and grinding out the win. He reiterated how a second goal was vital as we looked capable of chucking away the lead via our own self-inflicted blunders.

The second half started with real verve and tenacity. Cliftonville came strong as they tried to get a foothold in the game. Their very useful Captain was marauding through the middle and edged ever closer to equalising but he was marshalled well by the back line who snuffed out his attempts. On the one occasion he did break through, the stealthy Blackheath CB locked onto him like an Exocet Missile and with the Jaws music ringing in his ears tracked him across the pitch before ‘delicately’ dispossessing him of his physical connection to the earth with a solid challenge the like of which has not been seen since the Titanic hit an iceberg. Cliftonville pushed on and won a few more pc’s but with mistakes at the top of the D (in fairness injecting and stopping was devilishly difficult) they never really threatened except for a mishit after a breakdown that looped over everybody’s heads and hit the bar. This stirred the Mighty 3s and they promptly went straight up the other end and scored their second. Good leading runs from the energetic Will Powell opened up the space down the left and after several strong D injections and a bit of pinball action inside the D the ball finally fell to Rob Miller on the top right hand side who thrashed the ball home. 2-0 BOE.

BOE now began to exert some pressure and use the ball more wisely but as is often the way against the run of play a failure to clear their lines intelligently and safely handed the ball back to Cliftonville who gratefully slotted the ball home to put themselves back in the game. Soft goal to concede. But once again the Mighty 3s showed what they are capable and came right back at Cliftonville. Jake Owen (trying to make amends for his DOTD lateness) carried the ball forwards from his high LB position and ghosted past several static and forlorn defenders with silky aplomb before laying the ball of to Greg Broughton at the right of the D who ferociously slapped a piercing ball diagonally across the area where a gleeful Will Tate stretched and deflected the ball in the goal and thus regain the two goal cushion. 3-1 BOE.

This knocked the stuffing out of Cliftonville and when the rain then dared to get heavier the game became a wash out for the opposition as Blackheath controlled the final moments of the game by playing possession hockey and stroking the ball around with ease (unlike they had for the other 60?). The whistle couldn’t have come sooner and the BOE boys deservedly bagged the points.

Despite the difficult conditions that prevented the simplest skills from being executed correctly neither side was great and neither would be happy with their overall performance or the quality of hockey played. But the abilities and talents of the BOE 3s are clearly there. They just need focusing and pulling together…consistently. This bit of rough needs some spit and polish and then it will sparkle.

In honour of the very successful Pub Quiz I’ll finish with another Rihanna lyric (real name Robyn for those of you who didn’t get that one right at Quiz Night on Saturday!)

“Shine bright like a Diamond!!