Fives in City Takeover

As the last of the warm summer rays lit up the astro of Avery Hill, the hotly anticipated hockey season was finally under way!!
The fresh faced fives, looking lean and mean after a few weeks of "fitness on the heath" and a wicked first training session, flew out of the blocks.
With the new faces gelling instantly with the old and the young, it looked like being a one sided affair as the fives swept the ball back and forward across the pitch. The city boys of Wapping however had other ideas and soon settled their early nerves and turned into quite a slick outfit, which is what they did look like in the warm up.
The pressure was more sustained by the fives, but it was wapping who drew first blood. Panic not. The fives stayed cool and kept playing super hockey rewarded with a PC, where the straight shot on goal (well straight shot slightly wide) was deflected in and all was square. The fives kept mounting the pressure and shortly before half time Jade, like a twirling ballerina, waltzed into the D and reverse swept in or the fives to take the lead.

Shortly into the second half, the machine that is Dave Leverton, latched onto a cross with a divine sweep into the goal, before getting flattened by the beaten keeper. Not the last time that he would find himself mashed into the astro either. The remainder of the second half was a fairly even affair with the fives probably edging possession 60/40 and definately looking more confident on the ball. The back line had a fantastic game with Stu Mac and Jamie C in the middle, new recruit Rich Knight (who had an awesome game) on the right and young Louis B on the left. Louis picked up where he left off last season by bagging another man of the match - well done young sir.

The boys from Wapping had not given up however, and with about 8 mins to go they popped in their second goal to make it a very interesting end to the game. 3-2 to the fives. we settled and played sensibly and maintained our attack. Once again the machine Leverton was ground into the astro and a PC was awarded. what followed was a "Southgate Special" as young Harry danced around their first runner and slotted a perfect flick into the roof of the net.

4-2 and the crowd were on the pitch. They think its all over.........
It is now

Many thanks to Wapping for fielding an excellent side and playing a great game of hockey in good spirits. Enjoyed by all
Excellent first outings for Max and Dan
Thanks to Paddy for officiating
thanks to James Hatcher - official photographer extrodinaire

squad - Morton Stanton, Jamie C, Stu Mac, Rich Knight, Louis Brown, Matt Mcgee, Dave Leverton, Dan Tye, Callum Mac, Jade Bloomfield, Paul W, Harry Southgate, Max Taylor

scorers - Paul W, Jade Bloomfield, Dave "the machine"Leverton, Harry S

MOM - Louis Brown