Match Reports
08/10/05
Chichester 5 2-2 Men's 6th XI
'Bri' went to 'Chi' expecting a tough game from which the mighty 6's were extremely unlucky not to take all 3 points.
The early encounters were dominated by the home side, as Brighton stuggled to get a grip in midfield, Xavy was forced to make several good saves. Chichester took the lead after 15 minutes when slack marking from a side line hit, left the Chi centre forward unmarked on the P spot and leaving Xavy with not chance.
This prompted Brighton to start playing, with Hendo making strong runs through the midfield, Josh's pace creating opportunities on the right and Howie getting on top of a feisty tussle with the Chichester centre back. Despite this, it was still a bit against the run of play when Howie finished a Brighton short corner routinue on the far post to level the scores.
Despite a much more even finish to the first half, a short corner goal from the home side put them 2-1 just before the break.
Brighton re grouped at half time and relaxed to produce some fluid attacking hockey as Chichester tired badly and become more stretched. Ed and Myles prompting from the back and switching play with quick transfers, Hendo, Dipak and Birdy running the midfield and Ollie and Josh asking questions of the Chi defence from both wings.
Brighton pressure finally told when mid way through the half the Sixes produced the first goal of season candidate of the year. After breaking down a Chichester attack, a simple pass out of defence found Hendo who broke from inside the Brighton half to the opposition 25 beating 3 players in the process. Hendo then slipped the ball right to Josh whose 1st time cross was met by Howie who roofed the ball in top right hand corner.
The game finished with Brighton in almost total control but unable to break down a packed Chi defence, with often as many as 9 players in the D. Howie, Ollie and Josh all had good chances in the last 15 minutes and Brighton wasted several short corners as an entertaining game finished 2-2.
Ollie's Afro Watch - A good debut after being unveiled from under a baseball cap, but further growth is required to fulfil its obvious potential.