Down Cometh The Rain

Last minute squad changes and boughts of illness left the fives short. Well according to the captain's maths it did !!!! In reality, with guest star Paddy and young Josh staying to help, the fives hit the field with 13. A result for the captain already suffering from "hockey lag"

BA fives are a league above and looked it. They played fluent intelligent hockey from the off. In fact they looked as good as the 3rd eleven that had just walked off the field !! The Fives would need to show their fire !!

And they did.

The first half gave the Fives a taste of things to come. BA had the greater share of possession and undoubtedly more pressure on goal with PC after PC being repelled by the backline. But the fives stood firm. Panic was not in the vocabulary. Cool, calm and collected. The first half ended with honours shared and the scoreline at 0 - 0.

Now is where tactics and observations come into play. The halftime message. They are older than us but very skillful. Play the ball round them, at speed. Use our fitness

A purple patch ensued.

For the first 20 mins of the second half the Fives were dominant. Camped in the BA half, showing no mercy. Wave after wave of attack rained down.
The breakthrough came after the keeper played a game of keepy uppy and hide the ball in his pads. PC surely ??? No, the ball pops out and advantage is played, a shot on goal, blocked on the line by the defenders body. A flick. Well after a lengthy discussion between the umpires, yes a flick.

Captains responsibilities, and in the wet and slippery conditions he nearly fluffs it, but aided by the inside of the post the Fives are 1 - 0 up.

Minutes later they are off again. A run down the sideline, then along the baseline, training ground style. A slip back to the penalty spot and young Matt is in the perfect position. A fine sweep and the net is "Found" - that's a little pun !!!

It was then left to Dave Leverton to do his now trademark - 50/50 with the keeper, we are both going down, but I am gonna sweep the ball into the net. 3- 0

But it was not over.
BA refused to lay down. James Kelly in goal had taken a battering. Kicking, parrying, keeping us in the game. But finally he was beaten. They scored 2 in quick succession, the second being in premiership style with James being pushed out of the way to make the opening for the shot.
3-2 up and the fives were on the ropes.
But they held on to take a fine victory

As a team, brilliant. As individuals, superb.
Jamie C - supreme overhead picks
Paddy - 2x stops on the line and on any other day a man of the match performance
James Kelly - amazing. Well deserved MOM.
Matt Found - first goal, excellent

Thanks to Golbey for umpiring.

Well done all. The future looks bright !!!!!