BackSat 06 Dec 2025 · Division 6 North West
Mens 4th XICity of Peterborough 8
8
0
Donning the new shirts, it was written in the stars (well on the score board)
Stuart Mitchell7 Dec - 17:20
Men’s 4s vrs Peterborough 8
After last week top of the table clash we needed to back up that performance with another against one of the non-development teams and finish this half of the season on a high. A quick team talk in the changing rooms and then out onto the pitch for a warm up knowing there was no game before us. Walking onto the pitch the score board had 8:0 home win on it, I said to one of the players “that’ll be nice maybe that a premonition” Spoiler alert maybe it was!!
I had asked for plenty of energy from the start and on 3min we took the lead when Shaun found Andy free in the D to lift the ball high into the top corner. A couple of shorts and saves by the keeper kept the score at that until a driving run by Conor and a lovely cross D pass to Ben J saw him score for the third game in a row. A rare foray by Peterborough into our 23, then saw Justin have to come off with an injured calf. (hopefully can get it rested over the Christmas break) Just before the break, and what we love best in the 4s is a father-son combo, which saw Ethan drive down the wing and play a lovely ball across the keeper for his dad, Andy to score in an open goal. 3:0 up the break.
With the same intensity (it must be those new shirts) Kettering came out after the break charged up again. A couple of shorts and saves by the keeper (who seemed to take it as a personal mission to thwart Shaun at every turn and pulled off a couple of great stick saves) Finally a score from a short on 44mins, the first shot was blocked but fell to Ben S who pulled it back for Doug to smash home, which was is becoming his trade mark. I missed the next goal as I was writing down the previous scorer etc apparently Doug stole the ball in the press right from the restart, passed to Shaun who passed to Andy who smashed home in the top corner again for his hat-trick. Must have been seconds between goals.
Again the keeper made a good save from Shaun, but then when Shaun was winding up to have yet another attempt at goal a defender came through the back of Shaun, with no attempt for the ball. Flick awarded. No one was going to get the ball off of Shaun, who was desperate to get one past his nemesis in the Peterborough goal. Up stepped Shaun and this time beat the keeper – still only taking his goal to shot ratio to about 8%!!
With the match being played in the Peterborough half, Nate had very little to do, in fact a crash through ball saw Nate touch the ball for the first time. Again Peterborough’s keeper made another couple of decent saves (again from Shaun) and then with 61mins on the clock another short was won. Again Doug pulled out his big hit from the top of the D to take the score to 7:0. Would we reach the pre-match premonition with the clock ticking down?
With almost the final act of the game Doug came provider as he set up Shaun to finally beat his nemesis in open play, and reach the pre-match premonition 8:0. I might get some to put the score up on the board before our games in the future if this is the result.
What a great way to finish the first half of the season. 4 different scorers, 6 different players providing the assists and a clean sheet to boot.
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Captain’s thoughts – Unbeaten (and now I’ve jinked it) so far this season, an amazing job by all the players, as Captain this makes me so proud, but what makes me happier is that the team ethics; compete hard, play for each other, no whining or moaning, and playing with smiles on their faces.
Player of the Match – Ethan – with two thirds of the team voting for Ethan he won it by a landslide and deservedly so. In only his second game for the 4s looks a natural, always making himself available for an easy pass and delivered some great balls into the D, even managed to serve it up on a plate for his dad to score an easy goal.
D0D – With no real contenders, Tom S would have won it just because, then Ethan for leaving his bobble hat at the pitch, but a late run in from Oscar for leaving his stick at the pitch, (ironic particularly after teas conversations regarding how the kids always leave stuff behind and its so infuriating)
Champagne moment – Team photo pre-match all in our fresh new Kettering Kit
Captain’s mention – Despite the score line Peterborough played with good spirit, it was a nice game of hockey and some good chat and banter back in the clubhouse, with the keeper particularly please to know he had at least annoyed Shaun so much with his saves, and their captain had expected a 9:0 loss, so he was happy!
I had asked for plenty of energy from the start and on 3min we took the lead when Shaun found Andy free in the D to lift the ball high into the top corner. A couple of shorts and saves by the keeper kept the score at that until a driving run by Conor and a lovely cross D pass to Ben J saw him score for the third game in a row. A rare foray by Peterborough into our 23, then saw Justin have to come off with an injured calf. (hopefully can get it rested over the Christmas break) Just before the break, and what we love best in the 4s is a father-son combo, which saw Ethan drive down the wing and play a lovely ball across the keeper for his dad, Andy to score in an open goal. 3:0 up the break.
With the same intensity (it must be those new shirts) Kettering came out after the break charged up again. A couple of shorts and saves by the keeper (who seemed to take it as a personal mission to thwart Shaun at every turn and pulled off a couple of great stick saves) Finally a score from a short on 44mins, the first shot was blocked but fell to Ben S who pulled it back for Doug to smash home, which was is becoming his trade mark. I missed the next goal as I was writing down the previous scorer etc apparently Doug stole the ball in the press right from the restart, passed to Shaun who passed to Andy who smashed home in the top corner again for his hat-trick. Must have been seconds between goals.
Again the keeper made a good save from Shaun, but then when Shaun was winding up to have yet another attempt at goal a defender came through the back of Shaun, with no attempt for the ball. Flick awarded. No one was going to get the ball off of Shaun, who was desperate to get one past his nemesis in the Peterborough goal. Up stepped Shaun and this time beat the keeper – still only taking his goal to shot ratio to about 8%!!
With the match being played in the Peterborough half, Nate had very little to do, in fact a crash through ball saw Nate touch the ball for the first time. Again Peterborough’s keeper made another couple of decent saves (again from Shaun) and then with 61mins on the clock another short was won. Again Doug pulled out his big hit from the top of the D to take the score to 7:0. Would we reach the pre-match premonition with the clock ticking down?
With almost the final act of the game Doug came provider as he set up Shaun to finally beat his nemesis in open play, and reach the pre-match premonition 8:0. I might get some to put the score up on the board before our games in the future if this is the result.
What a great way to finish the first half of the season. 4 different scorers, 6 different players providing the assists and a clean sheet to boot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain’s thoughts – Unbeaten (and now I’ve jinked it) so far this season, an amazing job by all the players, as Captain this makes me so proud, but what makes me happier is that the team ethics; compete hard, play for each other, no whining or moaning, and playing with smiles on their faces.
Player of the Match – Ethan – with two thirds of the team voting for Ethan he won it by a landslide and deservedly so. In only his second game for the 4s looks a natural, always making himself available for an easy pass and delivered some great balls into the D, even managed to serve it up on a plate for his dad to score an easy goal.
D0D – With no real contenders, Tom S would have won it just because, then Ethan for leaving his bobble hat at the pitch, but a late run in from Oscar for leaving his stick at the pitch, (ironic particularly after teas conversations regarding how the kids always leave stuff behind and its so infuriating)
Champagne moment – Team photo pre-match all in our fresh new Kettering Kit
Captain’s mention – Despite the score line Peterborough played with good spirit, it was a nice game of hockey and some good chat and banter back in the clubhouse, with the keeper particularly please to know he had at least annoyed Shaun so much with his saves, and their captain had expected a 9:0 loss, so he was happy!
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