| Match Report |
Mighty 2’s vs Derwent 4’s Match report - Captain Croston reporting.. (in lieu of DoD Will Brydon who was too distraught to pen another masterpiece - details of why to follow...)
The Mighty 2’s - unbeaten since the turn of the year and sitting 3rd in the league, welcomed Derwent 4’s who started the day 3 points behind the hosts. After a tight contest in the reverse fixture earlier in the season (won by South 2-0 with a brace from skipper Grozzy) a similar hard fought encounter was expected at The Banks.
A slightly changed side from the previous week’s bruising draw vs the other Derwent team in the league saw the young guns Henry Gilroy-Davis and Fin & Rhys Collins keep their places alongside Club Chairman Simon Recaldin for his first match in between the sticks for the 2’s.. Jon & Ian Lane & Stevie Powell also returned to the starting line up.
The match began with a bang and immediately saw South pressing high and passing quickly to open up the Derwent defences to earn an early short corner. The first attempt resulted in a second short which was dispatched by the skipper with a low hard flick to the keepers right. 1-0 South!
The restart saw more impressive play, shifting the ball round the back, switching play through the expert orchestration of Will Brydon, working the ball through the field seamlessly to find an open channel, which led to a lovely through ball for Jon Lane to test the Derwent defenders - the ball found its way to Captain Grozzy who made space at the top of the D and smashed the ball past the keepers right ear into the roof of the net! 2-0!
There followed more slick play from South who were now bossing the game, creating more gilt edged chances that weren’t quite put away, but South started to get a little complacent, which led to the turning point in the match - the imperious Wilston received the ball on South’s 25yd line and looked for options as he had all match, however, the high press from Derwent meant there was an unsighted player who blindsided Will with a firm challenge, the ball squirted through Wills legs and the 2 on 1 was finished well by the attacking forwards. 2-1.
South needed to regroup, but a mix up at the back saw the visitors draw level just before the stroke of halftime. 2-2.
Stern words from Captain Grozzy were tempered with Will’s wise words of encouragement to make sure the team dug deep to access a higher level of play in the 2nd half.
Energised by this, South really started to move the ball round much more fluently which created more chances, including a nailed on 1 on 1 with the keeper that Ellz usually eats for breakfast, but the old bones and flexibility of the back didn’t quite allow him to convert his reverse attempt! Slick play from Stevie Powell and the constant pressure from the energetic Fin Collins ever present Adam Sharpe brought about more free hits as Derwent started to visibility tire - Will Brydon then took control, redeeming himself with a beautiful low hard pass into the crowded D, finding “you know who” who timed his run to perfection and completed his hat-trick by neatly slotting the ball under the keeper from close range. 3-2 South!
A fast and furious 10 minutes followed, but South managed the game perfectly to ensure the 3 points..
Great performance all round, some lovely hockey on display, the youngsters did a great job (as did the oldies)! The excellent response to ensure all players respected the umpires was greatly appreciated, thanks to both Ray & Dick for keeping us on the straight & narrow!
Onwards and upwards to next week away to West Bridgford 6’s..
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