M4 vs Gloucester 4 (A) Draw 2-2
MOM: Barney, Ollie & Tobias
DOD: Mark
This week…frustratingly close.
Early visit to Gloucester in the sunshine and penultimate game. 12 of us made it, we lost a few Jonathan C and Ethan to injuries outside hockey – really priorities guys, but gained some late comers, Barney and Jonny, joining their Dad’s, to make this nearly a father son outing.
We always have close games vs Gloucester, and our recent form gave me hope to get a positive result and we started with that mind set and had most of the play in the first quarter. Tobias, in a more-free attacking role started a move middle-ish right passed it out wide right to Shaun, who fed Raoul (who was having another battle with a centre back) who just laid off back to Tobias in the D, goal!!,0-1. And it didn’t stop, we kept attacking, Jonny hit a rocket of a shot from the top of D that rattled the crossbar and bounced down and in front of the keep who was relived to clear. We limited Gloucester to playing on the break and hitting heavy balls to the striker, often the only Gloucester player in out half. That’s when I missed one (see DOD nomination) and suddenly we were level, 1-1.
½ time, sweets and oranges quaffed, and I didn’t shirk from owning up to my mistake but apart from that it was all positive, effort – tick, attitude – tick, passing – could be better and stop passing to the opp., composure – could be better.
Graham delayed the start of the second half by forgetting one of his gloves, which he only realised when umpire asked ‘are you ready’, prime DOD nomination! The ½ half was even, our attacks generated some shots that went just wide and some good positions for Jonny C, who did a few air-shots (that composure thing). Gloucester also had chances and Bill, Alex, Graham and my-self coped. Alex used to playing with bigger pads, sacrificed 4 toes, two on each foot in the cause. On one of our attacks the shot was not cleared and Alex popped up to sweep home with 5 minutes to go,1-2. A point to note that in the Claridge household, Jonny & Alex, Dad’s have bragging rights with goal scored, in the Vacher’s house that position is reversed. It was still even right until the last and a very soft short corner decision at the final whistle, had all of Gloucester players lining up around the D. This was very tense. After dummy movement by Gloucester on the push out, we lined up again. I got to the top of the D, just after the ball rocketed past, Graham, who decided that in change to normal short corner routine we would all run out (why not!) saved this shot, but the ball went to a Gloucester player (wasn’t hard as all of the Gloucester team were in the D) and although we got some tackles in the ball dribbled over the line, 2-2.
I was somewhat peeved and think I showed the frustration of a hard-fought game lost at the last. Winning has given me a taste for league points and I really wanted all 3! It says a lot that we now do expect to win games, a few season ago, we were happy not to lose by 5 goals!
Bill very kindly stated that I had a ‘temporary loss of sense of humour’.
One more game to go vs Stroud 3, who are higher in the league but only beat us 2-1 last time, so another chance to play this season with a great team.
And Alex forget to take his stick home, he was counting is toes, again another classic DOD nomination!
MOM: Barney – solid in mid-field, Ollie – mid-field effort & Tobias – goal and attacking threat
Honourable mentions: Jonny C – that shot & Mark – stepping into Mr Kim’s defending shoes.
DOD: Mark – err not having his stick down to stop through ball that led to first opp. goal
Dis-honourable mentions: Jonny C – air shots and Graham – forgetting his gloves for the start of the second half.
Thanks also to the supporters, who cheered us on, gave critical feedback on passing and helped with aches and pains (magic spray) as we sub’d on/off. Special mention to Mrs Vacher who came to see all the Vacher boy’s, who missed Tobias goal as not back from just popping to ‘The Range’ and adding her vote to my DOD award, thanks darling.
So Mark…..
‘Although the others offered some excuses on my behalf, bounced just before, sun was in my eyes etc. I missed it and gifted the striker an easy chance, my bad. It was very much against the run of play, and we looked like scoring on every attack, not quite it seems.’