M4 vs Winchcombe 1 (H) lost 0-3
MOM: Dave
DOD: Mark
This week…a very decent effort
So early, on the metrological start of spring, in the sunshine (I know!!!!), 13 of us lined up against the runaway leaders of the league with a single purpose, concede less than last time (8-0) and enjoy playing a game of hockey – so that’s two but the later is a given in the 4s.
This week we welcomed Dave W into the defence, and he played a blinder and literally gave blood for the team.
Do you know what we started with a spring in our play (see what I did there) putting some passes together and keeping the ball. And we delayed Winchcombe by a full 10 minutes before they scored, 0-1. But the pattern was clear the defence of Mr Kim, Dave W and Bill R – I had lasted a full 5 minutes of chasing a forward around before I sub-off and Graham stopped by fair means or foul every attack, then the ball when we had it, stopping briefly in the mid-field the ball was launched up field for either Tobias or Ethan to run or the battling Raoul / Justin. It took Winchcombe another 10 minutes to score the 2nd and in between Graham has put a flick over the bar and other numerous saves from what seemed short corner practice by Winchcombe.
At ½ time, fuelled by the usual sweets, we changed things! Seeing that forwards were not getting any ball we changed to a 1-3-2-3-2 (we were 1-3-4-3) but everyone was grinning and so much energy still in the whole team was amazing.
Jonathan and Shaun took the mid-shield roles and Ollie, Tobias, Harry, lurked in mid-field, leaving the attack to carry on and not only did we look like we knew what we were doing in the new positions, we even made the Winchcombe keeper make a save and I think wiped out Harry in the process – he’s young and bounced. We kept on playing loads of effort, still trying to string passes together and Dave put body and soul on the line and I replaced him after another physical contest left him bloody, for the last 5 minutes.
Oh, Winchcombe, had more short corner practice, hit the bar, scored ONLY one goal, so final result was a 0-3 loss, however in context that counts as a small win. Well, that’s what it felt like.
MOM: Dave – Legend
Honourable mentions: Harry – Legend, Graham – Legend and the entire Team vote – Legend
DOD: Mark – administration error
Dis-honourable mentions: Bill – Legend, Toby – playing for the 2s and Tom C (Umpire) – leaving me hanging at the coin toss (still a legend tho’)
So Mark…..
As always, we struggle to nominate DOD when we have played so well and by default it’s usually Mr Kim. However, Toby was looking a shoe-in for deserting us for the M2’s, then Ollie recalled that Toby’s inclusion was an error by me. Thanks Ollie.