BackSat 25 Jan 2025 · East Men's Division 6 North West
City Of Peterborough 7
Mens 4th XI
4
1
Stop Press….no we couldn’t
Stuart Mitchell26 Jan - 20:51
Men’s 4 vrs Peterborough 7
Playing Peterborough away from their ground at Oundle, an early start, possible cancellation and a big top of the top clash. All set for a good weekend of hockey. After confirmation the game was on and a 5km hike to the pitch from the car park and in bright sunshine the game was on.
Unusually our normal beginning of the game intensity wasn’t there. To be fair, Peterborough’s press was both well organised and energetic with a front 4 of youngest constantly hassling our back 3, and the more experience midfield backing up, meant we struggled getting out of our third. The pressure soon told and Peterborough broke through, a fine hit put Peterborough in front. Before we could blink they had doubled their lead.
It was clear that we needed to change something, so mid game we switch formation to a 4-4-2, this stemmed the flow a bit, although it required a couple of great saves from Nate to keep us in the game. A rare attack down the left, saw Oliver win a short corner. Jack injected and Ben manage to stop the ball and get the shot away into the bottom left corner 2:1 game on!
Wasn’t long before the Peterborough’s press proved our undoing again and despite a double save by Nate, the ball was in the back of the net again. Half time 3:1.
Second half, was again very similar to the first, Nate keeping us in the game with more saves, and few attacks which resulted in fewer chances. We began to handle the press a bit better as we transferred quicker around the back but were still under the cosh. Peterborough won a short and scored again.
Final score was a 4:1 loss, one to take on the chin and move onto the next game.
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Captain’s thoughts – Sometime you just have to say “we were beaten by a better time” and we were. Actually you can learn a lot from the games you lose and from the opposition. Their press was impressive and put us under great pressure, some thing for us to look at and work towards.
Player of the Match – Nate Stilwell– Without a string of saves the score line would have been a lot worse.
D0D – Stuart Mitchell: I didn’t swerve it this week (although tight with Tom J for missing an open goal at the back post, well missing not only the goal but the ball completely and with the goal begging) My three alleged reasons; slipping over several times, apparently getting up with a grunt like an old man getting out of a chair, and by Paul just for putting him into the centre of defence.
Champagne moment – Oliver taking a sideline hit which resulted in the ball not even coming onto the pitch! (Only remember this after the voting!)
Captain’s mention – The players – disappointed at our loss (only the second of the season) but continued with max effort until the final whistle and even managed a cheeky trip to the George round the corner, to put the smile back on our faces.
Unusually our normal beginning of the game intensity wasn’t there. To be fair, Peterborough’s press was both well organised and energetic with a front 4 of youngest constantly hassling our back 3, and the more experience midfield backing up, meant we struggled getting out of our third. The pressure soon told and Peterborough broke through, a fine hit put Peterborough in front. Before we could blink they had doubled their lead.
It was clear that we needed to change something, so mid game we switch formation to a 4-4-2, this stemmed the flow a bit, although it required a couple of great saves from Nate to keep us in the game. A rare attack down the left, saw Oliver win a short corner. Jack injected and Ben manage to stop the ball and get the shot away into the bottom left corner 2:1 game on!
Wasn’t long before the Peterborough’s press proved our undoing again and despite a double save by Nate, the ball was in the back of the net again. Half time 3:1.
Second half, was again very similar to the first, Nate keeping us in the game with more saves, and few attacks which resulted in fewer chances. We began to handle the press a bit better as we transferred quicker around the back but were still under the cosh. Peterborough won a short and scored again.
Final score was a 4:1 loss, one to take on the chin and move onto the next game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain’s thoughts – Sometime you just have to say “we were beaten by a better time” and we were. Actually you can learn a lot from the games you lose and from the opposition. Their press was impressive and put us under great pressure, some thing for us to look at and work towards.
Player of the Match – Nate Stilwell– Without a string of saves the score line would have been a lot worse.
D0D – Stuart Mitchell: I didn’t swerve it this week (although tight with Tom J for missing an open goal at the back post, well missing not only the goal but the ball completely and with the goal begging) My three alleged reasons; slipping over several times, apparently getting up with a grunt like an old man getting out of a chair, and by Paul just for putting him into the centre of defence.
Champagne moment – Oliver taking a sideline hit which resulted in the ball not even coming onto the pitch! (Only remember this after the voting!)
Captain’s mention – The players – disappointed at our loss (only the second of the season) but continued with max effort until the final whistle and even managed a cheeky trip to the George round the corner, to put the smile back on our faces.
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