With the team all arriving early it was a chance to do the team talk and support Skymoons who were on before us. And yes this time we did do introductions before half time! After a bit of panicking that the opposition had run scared and conceded without telling us as we even got on the pitch before any had turned up. But they hadn’t and the match stated albeit 15mins late.

We got off to a great start, with lots of ball possession in the their half and some good flowing hockey. Between some good saves by their keeper, and what appeared from my end of the pitch as numerous missed opportunities by most of our forwards either hitting the keeper straight on or pulling just wide, it looked like it might be one of those games. On the stroke of half time we were awarded a short and with everyone up, managed to force a penalty stroke. Up stepped co-captain Beth…fair play for stepping up but…… unfortunately we still went into the break at 0:0.

Half time talk other than threatening the next player who missed, would be in goal next week, there was little to be said as we were playing some great hockey. A bit harder press when they were trying to get out their third and a bit more composure in the D was all that was needed. And that’s exactly what we got direct from the restart, the aerial ball to them was chased down and the pressure soon resulted in a turn over, with Ben J receiving the ball in the D and calmly slotting home to break the deadlock. Definitely putting that down to the half time team talk, also I suspect he really didn’t want to go in goal! One became two shortly after when a driving run and a thunderous shot into the top corner saw Harry on the score sheet.

It wasn’t long before the midfield got in on the action, with Zach getting a tap in at the back post after Andy Se had taken the keeper out of the equation. Inspired by having the Co-captain armband Ben S led from the front and seemed to be all over the pitch, with driving runs and crunching tackles everywhere accept back left where he was supposed to be playing! Note to self 15 captain’s armbands next week.

FGs came back into it with a couple of breaks and a couple of shorts, but the defensive unit was determined to keep a clean sheet, with the clock ticking down, and shut the door on everything. To top the game off Ben J got his second just before the end of the game. So a nice 4:0 win.

Player of the Match : Ben S
Dunce of the day: me again for shouting c’mon Skymoons and c’mon Supermoons during the match. (I told you all “kerfuddle” as a team name was the better option!)