Match Reports
28/10/06
Mid-Sussex (Sussex Cup) 0-3 Men's Veterans XI
OIL TANKER RUNS AGROUND IN STORMY WEATHER
One of the key features in the Veterans' play this season has been the robust approach to tackling. This has contributed to the recent run of results but perhaps the Skipper's pre-match talk pushed a couple of players over the edge?
Having played each other four weeks earlier in the League there was a certain amount of familiarity and mutual respect between the two teams. Mid-Sussex started well but Brighton's shape and discipline dictated most of the traffic in the first half. The return of Guy Nelson added a new dimension in pace to the side but it was the spirited peformance of Terry "Rocky" Patel that helped drive the team forwards. One of the many moves through midfield and out wide to the marauding James Alexander (excellently supported by Andy Wood) produced a short corner. Adrian "Oil Tanker" Adams accurate strike was stopped on the line but there are no prizes for guessing who was there to score from three inches off the line.
Both sides competed vigourously throughout the game but two incidents either side of half-time rather let both sides down. A clatter of sticks at ground level became a clatter of sticks at head level and suddenly Rocky Patel was laying low the reputation of accountants as quiet peaceful law-abidng citizens. This plus a few choice words from Cameron Heath provided the undercard for the main event. Brighton were attacking down the left with Steve Mooney working well with Heath when the move broke down. Mid-Sussex counter-attacked at pace (a relative term for Vets hockey) and it was Adams who found himself tracking back with the advancing player. Two forwards tackling each other is never a pretty site and this was no exception. The tackles became less attractive and suddenly it was handbags at dawn. The laws of the sea state that steam gives way to sail but most sailors know that a fifteen feet dinghy should probably let an oil tanker pass, this rather made the point. A previous report may have commented on his ability to turn on a dustbin lid but this correspondant has a better view of the shipping lane. After some harsh words (but miraculously no cards) and the prompt removal of the chastened forward the game calmed down.
Brighton went on to score two more goals. The first from a quickly taken free hit from Tim Ireland to Alexander who cleverly worked the ball past two defenders and the goalkeeper. The best was saved for last when Don Turnbull and Nelson combined well to let Scrivins through at the top of the D. Showing flashes of brilliance in a part of the pitch with which he is unfamiliar, Scrivins took the ball past the full back and 'keeper at pace before finding himself back in his comfort zone two feet from goal, from there the result was a foregone conclusion.
Brighton Veterans remain the most successful side in the club this season and in Rob Scrivins have a strong candidate for leading goalscorer. His main competitor would appear to be Adrian Adams who's season only got going last Novemeber and still notched up 18 goals.
Next week's opponents are Worthing who have also started well.