Men's 2nd XI Vs Mansfield 3

South Nottm 2s vs Mansfield 3s

Throughout the game South mixed the sublime with the ridiculous, somehow playing both exceptional and sloppy hockey at the same time.

We were awarded a penalty stroke at some point, which the Skip dispatched into the right hand corner to make it 1-0. Lord Brackenbury quickly made it 2-0 with the scrappiest of scrappy goals. 

South's third is tied first for goal of the game. The impressive Kai Thornton slipped the ball beautifully to the Lord in the D who redirected expertly to the waiting Skipper at the back post to convert us to 3-0 at HT. 

The pressure continued in the second half and one of our numerous short corners paid off as Skip got his hattrick as his effort came of the post and the keeper to end up on the Mansfield goal. 

A 10 minute lapse in standards cost South as Mansfield converted a penalty stroke of their own to make it 4-1. However the game was out beyond doubt shortly after. 

After some more exceptional work from Robbie winning a long corner, it was bounced to Gary and returned to the Skipper who powered the ball to the back post for the Lord to score his second of the game. Sonia that was classic interco...hockey. AHAAA. 

5-1 the final score. 

I'd like to reiterate on slightly less explicit words just how much our young men are improving. Toby, Robbie, Kai and the Lord now form a crucial part of our team and should be rightly proud of their performances this year. 

MoM could go to any of the young lads today but I'm giving it Kai. Works tirelessly every week doing the dirty work in midfield, largely unnoticed. 

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing this, but at HT he was frustrated with himself and told to keep his chin up, it's a tough job in there. His MoM is for grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and demanding the ball from a long corner before driving forwards into the D and creating a chance. 

That's taking responsibility for the team and was an exceptional piece of resilience - well done that man!