W 5-0
Goals: 3x Haimish Patel, 2x Alastair Whatley
report by Alastair Whatley
A hastily rearranged team to ensure more balance was marshalled by our selection team (take a bow Mr P) and some of our Thoroughbreads (take a bow Todd, Ben, Lewis and Lik) were given stable rest and a new stable of dependables stepped up to the breach swishing their rattling Sabres at the possibly still downcast WH&E who came back for their second tussle in the same week.
Harry Haynes was on strict instructions not to cross into the opposition half to which he manfully, if at time painfully adhered. The first half was almost a 50/50 battle- Veysel being called on repeatedly and the Southgate attacking massive making chances but not converting them.
Alessandro Onano was pepperoni the right channel and throwing balls in which forwards Haimish Patel, James Findlay, Mitch Read and Alastair Whatley couldn’t quite convert until something marvellous happened in the mid drift area and that led to something else on the right and into the D and Alastair Whatley turned and slapped and the ball sailed forth to a 1-0 lead for SHC. There followed yet another goal from the now prolific Haimish Patel who caught a superb deflection from a ball sent in by Lucca Bilyard to which the opposition goalie had no chance. A couple of short corners at the other end of the pitch attempted to stifle the Sabres advances but just before the half time buzzer Alastair Whatley caught a deflection from a short and we sailed into half time 3-0 up.
Sabres came out strongly for the first 10 of the second half, Haimish netting two more goals and ensuring his second hat-rick of the week. James Findlay was close on his reverse as was Mitch and even Rory Willmott whose quest for his 1st SHC goal was stopped cruelly on the post by a WH&E defender. The ensuing groan could have been heard at Oakwood station.
Randall Hyer was never far from the action, both he and Raj Saha working hard from first whistle to last in midfield. The game lost some momentum towards the end with a strong rearguard effort from the oppo- creating countless chances which were thwarted or bungled at intervals various.
A closer result than Mondays game but a solid effort from the Sabres with some quiet but effective work from Harry in defence shoring up our defensive lines throughout. Thanks to our Todd, Ben, Lewis and Rob for coming down and cheering the team on. They’ll be back in action this week.