With genuine shock and not a small amount of awe, the Accies 2nd XI arrived at the Old Cranleighan Hockey Club on Saturday morning to find Jeremy Clough, who must have presumably camped there the night before, surveying the pitch in a haze of game-faced readiness. This omen of good fortune preceded one of the finest displays of precision hockey that this reporter has seen outside of the Samsung Champions Trophy.
The Accies started the match at frenetic pace and were justly rewarded for the execution of their “world class basics” when Kevin hammered home the first of his three goals of the day. Buoyed by this all too rare goal from a flowing attack, the lads continued to press hard and flung the ball from corner to corner of the pitch with the ease of an experienced rentboy handling scrot. The halftime whistle couldn’t have been blown any sooner for Merton. In stark contrast, the Accies men hustled through a perfunctory team talk and were champing at the bit before Merton pushed back to start the second half.
Merton were closed down faster than a TCR hotdog vendor on both occasions that they managed to hold the ball for a period of longer than 4 seconds. Two goals for Kevin were followed by one each for Mike the Sladey-shoed student and the short corner impresario, George J Foxall. Will Church - on a glorious return to the 2nd XI - selflessly allowed his teammates to pile on the goals whilst gallantly missing gilt edged opportunities in order to assure that he was welcomed back with the same kind-hearted jesting he has become accustomed to.
The back four were rock solid throughout – it must be said that the transfer is nearing perfection – leaving nothing to chance after a recent depressing loss to Surrey Uni and Budgie barely had to stretch more than his vocal chords all afternoon. The midfield toiled tirelessly to create space for each other and support both the defence and the constant forward momentum which was expertly finished off by the forward unit.
Jolly good show.
“I don’t remember having such a good time on the hockey pitch since uni. It feels great to properly stuff a team again. I think this is a seminal moment in my life.” – Will Church.
League:
Pushback time: 13/02/2010 02:23PM
Meeting point:
Meeting point:
no notes