MIGHTY 3S MOW DOWN AT THE MEADOW

With a fuller strength squad available, that welcomed the return of experienced Mighty 3s forward players William Powell, John Townsend and James Hatcher (especially after last week’s impotency at Ashford in the final 25), the team had a strong air of confidence going into the game. Although the opposition were languishing near the foot of the table Blackheath were sure not to be complacent because a big club like Holcombe has strength in depth and you can never be sure who you’re going to face. Besides, with Mike Earnshaw deputising at IL for the promoted Thomas Cleall, William Tate finally moving out of the front line and into his optimum position in midfield and Jason Barkworth establishing himself in his new role at RH there was plenty for the 3s to cope and positively adjust too. Add to this the presence of Senior Performance Director Edd Thorogood to run his eye over proceedings and coach from the side-lines and the Mighty 3s were set up for quite a day.

The game started brightly and at pace. Blackheath made early attacking inroads using their pace to get around a slow and static defence. The planned three quarter press on their 16 hits was putting them under pressure and a tight, harrying midfield was forcing the opposition to frequently turn the ball over. It wasn’t long before the dogged persistence and trickery of the Blackheath forwards drew a foul in the D and the team’s first PC. David Golbey’s pacey but wayward injection was taken by stopper James Goldsmith on his strong side but his fierce swipe topped the ball and a bouncing shot made its way to the keeper. The tricky bouncing ball was hesitantly and softly palmed by the GK but James Hatcher was quickest to react and after his initial flick came back to him off the pads he emphatically ‘roofed it’ on the second attempt. Predatory finishing at its best. 1-0 The Club.

Blackheath continued to push forwards and slowly began to control the game. Holcombe having little joy in carving out any meaningful chances. They did steal a few PC’s after some rash unnecessary stick tackles (you know who you are!) and a slight defensive deflection onto the post denied them a cheeky equaliser from one of these. However, Blackheath were too strong for Holcombe and another goal soon came. Mike Earnshaw finding some space in the D before slapping the ball hard across to John Townsend to deflect in for a ‘dirty’ second goal as rehearsed in training. Blackheath were dominating the play. Young 16yr old William Tate, the deserved MOTM, was proving why he’s one for the future with an industrious and committed performance in the midfield. James Goldsmith ran him close for the MOTM award with a classy display alongside him orchestrating much of Blackheath’s best passages of play. Despite some impressive and swift phases of good team hockey they couldn’t quite force a third goal and went into half time comfortably 2-0 up.

A lucid and direct interval team talk from Coach Edd Thorogood made it clear we still had much work to do to make the 3 points safe and there was room for improvement all round. The opening moments of the second half were crucial and the Mighty 3s looked to put themselves out of sight with some forceful offensive moves. A flurry of attacks and near misses in the D resulted in a rush of blood to the head from the Holcs GK who wiped out the Blackheath forward when through on goal for a concrete Penalty Flick. Up stepped the wily old fox James Hatcher who superbly dispatched his flick low and left to leave the keeper no chance. His second and BOE’s third. 3-0.

There were plenty more goals to be had here for the home side but to give Holcombe credit they battled hard in search of something. The game ebbed and flowed with the other Blackheath forwards Michael Wickenden, Tom Koristas and William Powell rotating across the top and running their hearts out in selfless support of the team. The useful utility player (every team needs one) Mike Earnshaw had one of his best performances as IL and RH for 10 mins in second half. Jason Barkworth continued to impress in his new role at RH with a skilful display and the odd aerial thrown in for good measure.

Blackheath then put themselves under unnecessary pressure by being reduced to 10 men when David Golbey saw yellow for the second week running for another sloppy and ugly tackle. The midfield master is better than that but let himself and the team down with an undisciplined moment of poor play. This upset the BOE rhythm and the next ten minutes proved the team still have much work to do as they dropped the intensity. The focus and quality declined and they began to lose the ball and make bad choices. Another poor lunging stick tackle (again you know who you are!) put in motion a series of Holcombe short corners most of which were kept out by the solid teenage GK Sam Hannon and his well-marshalled defence. BOE endured an odd moment when the Holcs Umpire tried to award the opposition a penalty flick when the initial pc shot dispatched from the top of the D was lifted and struck the BOE defender on the stick holding left hand which was half way up his chest. It was clear to everyone what had happened but he seemed adamant it was deflected into the chest by somebody? The defender? A mystery player? The Umpires unfathomably discussed it for an eternity before reality finally returned and he changed his unbelievable decision. However, the last penalty corner of the series was touched over the base line for a long corner and the resulting ping pong, pin ball madness in and around the D saw the ball fall to the young Holcs attacker who swept the ball in at the second attempt. 3-1.

It was a disappointing setback for a defence that had been strong, composed and resolute throughout. Some firm words of encouragement from the Skipper reset minds and this blemish on an otherwise dominant performance shifted the Mighty 3s into another gear. BOE set about making the score line reflect their superiority and bossed the final 8 minutes scoring two more great goals. A superb team move started by the ever improving Jake Owen at LH saw a selection of one touch passing and wonderful running off the ball release William Powell in the D to swivel and turn the defence inside out before sweeping into the goal on the reverse for a great fourth and just reward for his tireless energy. 4-1. John Townsend then got his second of the match with another neat deflection this time form the right side after great build up play from the now hungry forwards. 5-1.

It was a very good team display with a deserved five goals racked up. The opposition were one of the weakest we’ve faced but you still have to put in a shift and beat these teams as convincingly as you can and that isn’t always easy. The 3s will be punished by better teams if they continue with lapses in quality, focus and discipline but they can take great positivity from this game into their final match before Christmas as they look to climb the table.