Well that has to be one of the strangest games of hockey, ever. With one of Blackheath’s umpires having a temporal crisis, Boss Gary had to be drafted in to help out, not ideal for us, having arrived so close to pushback.

So 2nd verses 4th, and after last weeks disappointment a reaction was needed. Not of the chemical kind, more of a spiritual, emotional and physical reaction. An intense tactical outline and coaching pre match by Nick and Colin, a proper warm up (sadly lacking last week, we’ll blame this for our slow start and not the adjusted opposition team we faced), and we were deemed ready to go into battle. Sorry, ready to play, it’s a game after all, or so I am told.
The required reaction is exactly what we got, short sharp passing, moving and supporting each other, closing down and high press forcing them onto the back foot, Schofield scored a few short corners and even passed the ball for a tap in (progression) and Callum popped up with a well taken poachers finish at the near post.
When the concentration was on point so were we, against a team who have racked up 50 goals already this season, who were a constant threat, every defensive slip was punished but the power of our attacking potential was far too potent. 4-2 at half time, a lead we thoroughly deserved, and the message, don’t let the intensity drop and stop running it out of your own ‘D’.
Second half and straight back to it again with the same intensity and for the first 15 minutes utter and complete domination, Blackheath pinned in their own half. Tom placed a shot past the keeper when through 1 on 1, Alastair placed the ball between the keepers legs, all seems to be going very nicely, thank you very much.
However, as the lead grew so did the gaps between attack and defence and gradually Blackheath got a foothold in the game and started getting increasing numbers of short corners and converting with aplomb. Camping on the Ash 25 with a very capable high press of their own, limiting every opportunity to play through them, the seemingly insurmountable 8-2 lead started looking shakey as the score increased 8-3, 8-4, 8-5, their tails up, ours in full retreat, and the dreaded dribbling out the ‘D’ making its return, it looked like there could be a late charge for an equaliser.
But with the seasoned calm heads of Nick, Colin, Hursty and the relentless intensity to chase everything down of David, Fin, Butler and Alistair, the 3 points were never in doubt. Well, not for very long at least. The Welsh wizards Tom and Will, pulling the opposition defenders around, sometimes literally, the constant goal threat from Schofield, the running threat of Daniel gunning straight down their throat and the relentless tenacity of the Ash Intelligence, the one and only G-Man breaking up play. This team is built on the principle, never stop pushing and the old adage, ‘we’re gonna score one more than you’ (Fat Les, nowhere near as articulate as H would have put it, but the dentist isn’t anywhere near comparable to our resident wordsmith). Anc’s next and hopefully another step toward the top where we belong. Thanks as always to the on pitch brains trust Steve, Colin, Nick and Gary for the organisation