Men's 2nd XI Vs Derwent 3

South 2’s Vs Derwent 3’s 
DoD Mr Willey with the quill.  

After a beautiful drive through the Derbyshire countryside passing through idyllic market towns it was chiily day that greeted the Mighty 2’s to Wirksworth Leisure Centre to face Derwent 3’s.  

A leisurely warm up followed with what balls we had (yes I forgot the balls, masks and the first aid kit which is why I’m writing this!). The umpires eventually turned up and without tossing a coin South had won the pushback and this slightly unorthodox way of umpiring was to show throughout the game.  

South started well soaking up the Derwent plays as they pressed high trying to force an early goal.  Good positional hockey from South transferring the ball across the defence with speed and accuracy both Terrible Toby Clough (MOM) and Ruthless Mark Roe we’re able to open up passes to the wings of Lord Thomas of Brackenbury and Robbie the Ninja. Derwent soon altered their format as South’s midfield dominated possession leaving the opposition to flail their sticks at the skill of Kai “Roadman” Thornton and GAZZAAAAAA. 

Derwents defence were good-managing to pick GAZZAAAAAA’s through balls and shutdown South’s attacks.  The first goal of the game came via a through ball from Derwent's midfield to their lone forward splitting the hairy defence of Skip and Mr Willey leaving the wall of Tom to stop the onrush but he missed. South were 1-0 down. Despite South having the majority of the possession we just could not crack the Derwent defence and went into the break a goal down.  

The Mighty 2’s love coming from behind and within minutes of that second half whistle South penetrated Derwent's precious area with an explosion of shots from Sir Micheal of Shaplandshire as I live and breathe and gave the Ninja the opportunity to slap one in on the rebound.  1-1.

Again South pressed pushing into Derwent's exposed flanks but Derwent came back strongly, battling up the field to win a dubious short corner. Scrappy is the only way to describe the Derwent routine with South’s defence managing to put the ball on a Derwent foot, unfortunately missed by the umpires as they watched a phalanx of geese fly overhead.  2-1.  Back into the fray South’s young men played some beautiful hockey MOM “Terrible”Toby dancing around Derwent's midfield, linking with the Skip and GAZZAAAAA to find the lurking presence of Alex “yo massa puss” Cavan whose shots hammered the Derwent keeper.  One such shot fell at the feet of Sir Micheal of Shaplandshire so I live and breath who managed to slide it past the onrushing keeper to level the scores 2-2.

Now South had there tails up and threw the kitchen sink at Derwent, Lord Brackenbury 3rd had acres of space on the right wing popping balls past his defender to Kai Roadman Thornton to pounce on - shoving his way up the narrow channels of Derwent's defence. A linked ball with that SA fella managed to secure a South short corner with seconds left on the clock, it was now or never! 

“Ek het in my hart geweet ek gaan score, ek visualiseer die bal gaan bo-hoek en ek fokken gewerk!”

Drag flick over the keeper's shoulder EPIC! 2-3!

With the restart the whistle blew for the end of the game and South had come away with 3 points. 

Not the prettiest game of hockey but the performances of our young men Kai, Robbie, Tom and Toby was an absolute pleasure to watch.