Match Reports
22/11/08
Mid Sussex 2s 0-7 Men's 4th XI
Daylight has been established between the Super 4s at the top of the table and the chasing pack as our amazing run of form continues with another superfluous display of both attacking prowess and defensive assuredness.
A decent squad was assembled and took the short hop up the A23 to play mid table Mid Sussex and confidence was high from the last few performances and a lot more familiar faces. I, in my varied role for the team as Chairman of selectors/manager/captain/motivational speaker/personal organiser/bottom and nose wiper to fully grown adult hockey players, was finally enjoying the benefits of consistency.
The increasingly familiar back four of Wright, Ready, Smithy and Perry-y looked solid and assured throughout. Special mention should be given to Perry-y for an outstanding game at centre back.
Cup heroes Dan Benson and The Buck also made welcome returns to the 4s and added to youthful exuberance and increased the number of players willing to run. Vanilla Ice also continued his good run in the side providing the majority of the leg-work in midfield.
For the third week running matters of the bottom were at the fore. After Yann’s trials and tribulations at Crowborough and JC being housebound last week it was up to Bondy to keep us all updated with his toilet experiences. He feared the 3 curries he enjoyed the night before (Sir Clive Woodward authorised pre-match conditioning) would leave him marooned on the toilet unable to play. He happily made the game but we were all tenterhooks whether he’d make it through the 70 minutes without taking a comfort break. To save this report from the base levels we seemed to be wallowing in I will return to the match.
The Sublime 4s were on imperious form with passing and movement which left the Mid-Sussex boys at sixes and sevens. A hatful of chances were missed in the first half but thankfully through the law of averages some goals had to be scored. We trotted in a half time 4-0 to the good and coasting.
We only added three more in the second half when it seemed easier to score double that. Tosh was a serial offender with a number of horrendous air swipes and a terrible reverse stick effort which, with an open goal begging for the ball, ballooned high and wide.
However, Captain Dan was on great form and soon polished off a well deserved ha-trick. This is more deserving for a great team player who has played out of position for the good of the team on more than one occasion already this season. Another highlight for Dan was the moment when he pulled of an easy pass to Wrighty. So close Wrighty, so close. Keep calling for it you’ll get a pass one day…..
Bondy was also getting more and more frustrated with his lack of goals this season and so stuck himself up front. Prowling the D like a caged tiger it was only a matter of time until a goal mouth scramble gave him the tap in he needed to add to his scoring for the season and end ours for the day. It has to be said that the majority of our goals would have made Matt Harding’s efforts resemble top corner screamers, but, as I have always said, why do it hard when you can do it softly, a goal is a goal.
Anyway, seven-nil and happy days. And with Penguin and South Saxons drawing we have some clear space at the head of the table.
Team: Brooksy, Wrighty, Ready, Perry-y, Smithy, Captain Dan, Bondy, JC, Vanilla Ice, Tosh, Bence, The Buck and Upjohn.
Goals scored by: Captain Dan 3, Bondy, 1, Bence, 1, Phil O 1 and The Buck 1.