Men's 1st XI Vs Beeston 4

South Nottingham 2 v 4 Beeston

Stuart mills reports

With the Corona virus shutting down all major sporting events across the country, South were somehow given the go ahead in their big clash at home to Beeston. Promotion chasing Beeston, were a side full of many familiar faces, who it was great to see back at Bingham. A tough task awaited South Notts but they had reason to be optimistic, putting out their strongest squad of the season.

Beeston started strongly, with a large squad full of good hockey players and won a short early in the game. The short corner resulted in former South Player Chris Pink, who will be strongly remembered for making South’s signing of the decade when he signed Stuey Mills, to smash home in the bottom corner.

South were full of running though and grew into the game in the first half. The pace of the front free of Carlos, Gaz Bland and Tom C causing the Beeston sides problems on the break. But it was a smart counter and a brilliant ball in from the exceptional Robbo, which found Ben Ryder at the back post to slot home with a smart finish to make it 1-1. South continued to play well and were more than a match for a strong Beeston side but they were thankful for a smart save from keeper Tommy Hall from a short corner before half time.

A special mention to the back four, who were exceptional all game. Centre backs Tommy P was strong in the tackle and young Harry Lane improving every week used the ball well. The consistent Jim Ward, using the ball well every time he was in possession and the most improved player of the season Tommy Fletch having his game of the season.

Beeston started the second half strongly pressing and surrounding the South players every time they had the ball and eventually this pressure told. Robbing South of the ball, former South player John Proctor fired a ferocious reverse stick shot into the bottom corner to give Beeston the lead.

South rallied with a smart bit of play in midfield from Robbo, Mills and Archie saw the ball fired across goal for Gaz Rich to slot home an equaliser.

Buoyed by this equaliser, South began to exert pressure of their own and Stuey Mills, who had his shot cleared off the line and Carlos hitting the post, will have wished they could have been more clinical when South were in the ascendancy.

South were made to pay for this and after all these efforts they were left disappointed in the deflected shot creeping over the line to give Beeston the lead.

With minutes left, South pushed higher and it really was a serious shift put in by every member of the squad. But they were caught out in the final moments when a smart bit of play from a former international found another former South player Rob Proctor to finish smartly to make it 4-2.

South had no reason to be disappointed at the end of the game. The effort and play from the team was really superb and a testament to how competitive they have been in every fixture this season.

All in all, what a fantastic game of competitive hockey played in a brilliant spirit. Fingers crossed this won’t be the final fixture and South can push for the top four (champions league) position.

MOM - Tommy Fletcher