Match Reports
14/10/06
East Grinstead 0-11 Men's Veterans XI
BOBBY DAZZLES AGAIN
Saturday proved particularly satisfying for many of the Vets, as on more than one occasion most of us have been on the other end of this type of score-line against East Grinstead.
Against an EG side playing short (that’s in number of players and not the Ronnie Corbett sense) the Vets made a measured start, keeping the ball moving and working EG around the pitch. It wasn’t long before Rob Scrivins broke into an amble and turned the ball home following a rebound off the keeper’s pads.
Further goals followed from Tim Ireland and Scrivins, the latter setting off on a run from inside his own half beating player after player before sprinting into the D and striking an angled shot into the roof of the net. OK, so he turned it in from 2 yards, again. It was then the turn of Adrian Adams to score his first of the season. Working on the principle of, “if you can’t beat them, join them”, he turned in a rebound from a close range (goes without saying) Scrivins effort.
With the half time whistle approaching EG pushed forward and a superbly timed pass left their striker with a clear run on goal. However, Pete Ashdown was quickly off his line and a well timed dive at his feet smothered the attack. EG continued to press forward but the Brighton defence broke up the play and set the midfield moving forward. Don Turnbull’s measured pass found Adams running into the D, with everyone expecting a reverse stick slash into the wire netting, the light heavyweight (he has been on a diet, after all) instead turned on a dustbin lid and hit a well struck shot under the keeper.
The second half saw no let up from the Vets, with the rotating midfield of Ireland, Carlo Missirian, Turnbull, James Alexander, Terry Patel and Steve Tinson (but not all at the same time) winning every loose ball and showing great energy and a good deal of skill going forward. A mazy dribble into the D by Missirian was ended by EG feet and from the resulting short Adams slipped the ball left for the armenian to hammer the shot home.
At some point, possibly during the second half; Scrivens bagged his second hat-trick of the season and quickly matched his tally of last week with a well taken fourth. Ireland added to the score when he crashed a loose ball home, before Adams completed his hat-trick, pouncing on a defensive error to score from all of one inch. Turnbull completed the rout when, having first shot superbly saved, he turned the ball home from close range.
The scoreline suggests the defence didn’t have much to do and they didn’t, but when called upon Messrs. Mooney, Spearman, Wood and Heath were not found wanting, making a number of well timed interceptions and starting many an attack.
A special mention goes to new “boy” Carlo Missirian, who lost his Vets virginity on Saturday and while not yet totally acclimatised to the pace and skill level of Vets hockey capped a fine display with a well deserved goal.