No birthday presents – you should have told us.
First off a big thank you to Mike T, not even playing for the 4s today but deserves the first mention, for stepping down out of goal to play outfield for the 5s so they had a sub. Availability this week was so low, every men’s team only had 12, thanks to Mike. That said it also meant we could give a 4s debut to the club’s newest keeper Kiitan. (Does need to work out the deference between push back and meet time!- turning up with 8mins to pushback does give your captain palpitations!)
The start saw each side sizing up each other, and it ebbed and flowed. Eventually Wisbech scored. Kiitan made a great first save but the attackers were quicker onto the rebound. Despite the young age of our team they to their credit keep their head up, and shortly after we one a short corner. Up step Ben S who flicks in into the top corner via a big deflection, well they all count. Just before half time Wisbech scored again much they same as the first. So 2:1 down at half time.
After the break Shaun got taken out from behind as he was bearing down on the keeper and only about 2m out, but only a PC was awarded. Shortly after Wisbech won their own PC, the resultant second phase strike took a big deflection off my stick leaving Kiitan no chance. Their next goal was one of those really annoying ones as a keeper, after good first diving save, the ball hits the ground and slowly spins away from the end of your outstretched stick and then back slowly and inevitably toward the goal line.
Despite the scoreline and the age of a lot of our team, we showed determination and character and continued to fight all over the pitch. Kiitan kept the score down with a couple of great saves, but couldn’t keep out two more. So final score 1:6, but actually a really good game of hockey, we were just beaten by a better team (on the pitch – poor that only 1 came back to teas, whereas our whole team bar one came back).
It was at teas that we found it was actually Shaun birthday, should have told us we would have brought a cake. Sorry we couldn’t give you a win on your birthday.
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Captain’s thoughts – Player flexibility – and I’m not talking about whether they can touch their toes! But about playing wherever their captain or the club needs them to, Mike this week was a prime example of this. It may look like this often goes unnoticed, but trust me the captains notice and really appreciate it.

Player of the Match – John –– It was a 4 way tie, Kiitan for some superb saves, Ben S for another display in defence and Stu P for constant energy in midfield, but John took the captains deciding vote with a display of energy, aggressive tackling and constant communication and encouragement.

D0D Me – inexplicably as others forgot socks and forgot to tell us it was his birthday, forgot to bring back the man of the match trophy and turned up with 8min to go to get changed into his keeper’s kit. All I did was deflect one pass my own keeper, so unfair