Match Reports
11/11/06
Crawley 2's 4-0 Men's 4th XI
The three most important things in hockey composure, composure, composure. Brighton lost it a bit on Saturday afternoon and in so doing lost the match. Lessons need to be learned.
Brighton 4s welcomed debutant BMF Dave to add some fitness to the midfield. After nearly a decade away from hockey he quickly found his feet, whether that is a sign of his quality or a lack of quality of the 4s is open to debate. He could perhaps do with a stick that has a hook in it rather than a straight edge though. With the loss of Davros through injury, Ade promoted and Wappy on educational duties the 4s looked to have lost a little midfield and attacking bite fielding a team nearly entirely made up of defenders.
Crawley had a good mix of young and old and it was their old defence that ran the show releasing increasingly nippy players to cause the damage.
Reedy was on unbeatable form and the defence held out for the first 15 minutes. The problem seemed to be our passing where we consistently found a Crawley stick (or Brighton foot).
Crawley took the lead after their winger and the ball left the by-line but this was not spotted by either the umpires and bypassed Crawley’s sense fair play. The resulting cross was met by a Crawley striker who was shortly after met by Dr Jamie’s hands in his back and a penalty flick was awarded (and dispatched). This prompted scenes of incredulous demonstration as Brighton remonstrated with the umpires and the Crawley players with no success. Men’s club captain Thompo lost it a little more than perhaps he should and a green card was swiftly followed by a yellow, despite Sheff’s best effort to make Thompo see sense and Brighton were one goal down and down to ten men.
It could be a coincidence but Brighton did not concede during the period of Thompo’s absence….. (a little harsh - Ed.)
The scrappy game continued and Brighton were unable to gain any fluency and got increasingly frustrated by some mysterious umpiring decisions. As the half time whistle blew Crawley were awarded a short corner which was dispatched after a neat switch and Brighton went in an undeserved two goals down at half time.
Skipper Andy C wanted more composure from all the players but didn’t get it.
Josh’s pace began to find some space and he was unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions but it was Crawley that really started to run the show.
On a rare excursion up the pitch Thompo took a free hit to the calf from five yards (what comes around goes around) and was informed that rather than being dangerous it was a free hit to Crawley. Thompo wasn’t overly chuffed and Andy C in defending Thompo’s “honour” asked the umpire how he would like it if “someone shelled the ball at him from five yards!?!” Andy was then politely asked to leave the field of play through the medium of a yellow card. He did so, but not quietly.
There was still time left in the game for Thompo to do his usual and take out the toes of one of our players, Duncan was chosen by the random generator that is the direction, speed and height of a Thompo free hit. Who says hockey isn’t exciting?
A dodgy short corner doubtlessly followed, which Crawley converted through Brooksy’s legs (via two deflections).
The third and final loss of composure was for the usual mild mannered Doctor Jamie who upon a harsh short corner being awarded did a Roadrunner style run on the spot before kicking the backboard, I think there may have some kind Primal Scream release of energy as well. The umpire, again politely, asked him not to do that but in his funk the Doctor wasn’t listening. Apparently the Doctor loses it twice a season, this was his first. If I’m honest I can’t wait for the next one. By all accounts he can’t abide injustice.
Crawley completed their victory by taking advantage of some slack back post defending and Brighton left the field with lots of grumblings and mumblings.
The post match awards were their usual mixture of extreme farce and fixing. Thompo having bravely fallen on his sword and accepted the handbag, in spite of stiff competition from Andy C and Jamie, was then stitched up by the Kangaroo court and wound up with the teapot. Even more incredulous was the cross field pass from Jamie to the Crawley centre forward didn’t receive a vote ! The Dancin’ Homer went to Andy C....Doh!
This is Brighton 4s fourth defeat on the trot and something needs to be done to stop the rot, I suggest composure is a good place to start followed shortly by trying to refrain from giving the ball to the opposition, especially in our ‘25’ and finally followed by that ol’ chestnut, when in the ‘D’ ‘muller’ it at the goal.
(Did you mention we need more composure?...Cap'n Ed)