Match Reports
28/01/06
Hailsham 1s 2-1 Men's 4th XI
Brighton 4s 1 - Hailsham 1s 2
Scorers : Auke
Brighton came into this game in buoyant mood, following their revenge over Saxons, made even sweeter by coming back from 3-1 down. On a day when all home games and most of the away games were cancelled, Thompo’s free morning was rudely interupted my many of the lighter weights in the team, phoning to check the game was still on as it was a bit cold. They received a suitable frosty response from the skipper.
Once bitten, twice shy
so Thompo still smarting from the logistics nightmare that caused the embarassing 6-1 loss away at Saxons, seemed to think that Hailsham was close to Hastings and arranged a particularly early meet time to make sure we arrived in plenty of time. We did !!! Just after 2 for a 3:30 push
. sensibly the advance party opted for a trip to an upmarket coffee house, Costa Coffee, (sorry downmarket for Rickards !), where cappucinos and expressos were the order !
The large intake of caffeine before the game ( although strictly with the legal limits), seemed to propel Brighton into the better of the early exchanges, with Bondy and Rickards running the show. After several close calls for Hailsham, Brighton took the lead in rampant style with Auke cutting in from the left and blasting it into right hand roof of the goal. 1-0 and the show was up and running.
However the game soon became a fractious affair with lots of niggling tackles and general moaning at the umpires from both sides. Brighton seemed to allow all this to let themselves switch off, and thus got into a couple of close shaves. Soon they were on the receiving end of a dubious short corner decision. Hailsham obviously having a well worked routine, ended up with Morrissey neatly drilling the ball into the right hand side with Kumar’s despairing hand unable to stop it. Hailsham then hit a purple patch causing many problems for Brighton, with Fabio at the centre of all things, causing all sorts of issues and discussions. Brighton then were dealt a hammer blow as Morrissey again dispatched a sweetly struck short corner, this time to the left straight past skipper Thompo on the post. Brighton heads were down and struggled hard to keep the deficit to only 2-1 at half time. More surprisingly, it was amazing tha both teams finished the half with 11 players, especially as a number of players from both sides were fortunate to avoid a yellow, especially the one who collects yellows like postage stamps on a weekly basis !
An intense half time team talk seemed to gee up Brighton, with everyone refocusing on the task in hand
could the boys come back again ?
The game became a more and more feisty affair with the level of moaning and tackling deteriorating even further leading to the conclusion that it was only a matter of time before the full quota of players would be reduced. However no one could have quite guessed what for !
Skipper Thompo seemed to make a clean tackle ( well by his standards !) to take the ball from Morrissey
this then developed into a rather intense discussion about 80’s music
Morrissey obviously a fan of the Smiths
but Thompo suprisingly opted for the Human League and launched into a rendition of the 1st few bars of “Mirror Man”, several times ! The umpire being a drum n’ bass fan had had enough called both players over and dismissed them for their involvement in the 80’s music scene. Thompo still smarting from the lack of musical taste shown by the umpire, tossed his stick into the corner he had been sent to. Any doubts on whether Thompo had done enough to win the teapot were swiftly dispelled as his stick looped over the fence
a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by key members of the team.
Brighton pressed and pressed and even the introduction of guru’ Wappy, the Jonathan Woodgate of Brighton hockey, recovering from a long term arthritic condition, couldn’t produce a breakthrough
.. wait
could Brighton sneak a last minute equaliser ??? The scene was set
.. a top Brighton marksman was waiting for that delivery on the P’ spot
.. the cross came over
.. only the keeper to beat
surely justice would be done
.. a huge agricultural swing reminiscent of Thompo at Crowboro’ last season .. .connection would result in a net breaker
. no !! alas stick and ball did not connect
and the moment passed to tears of despair rather than laughter (Thompo at Crowboro’ ). Alas 11 wins in a row had not become 12. Brighton only had themselves to blame in a poor display and trudged off suitably disappointed
.
Thompo, now worried that he might have had the teapot snatched by the last gasp airshot, proceeded to play his joker by directing Wappy to the Hailsham club house
100 yards away from the said destination, Thompo lost all confidence and proceed to tell Wappy to turn round. After another 20 minutes, and several phone calls to the Hailsham fixture secretary, the Brighton posse arrived at the clubhouse. Thompo knew then he had bagged a brace
. teapot and handbag
. good work my son
leaving the top quality Brighton marksman gutted at missing out. However he can have the Dancin Homer
. for not keeping his head down whilst shooting
. surely that is athletic prowess !!!!
Interesting fact - The Hailsham fixs secretary doesn’t know where his own clubhouse is !!!!