Match Report : Jo Price
Result – won 2-1
The 5s returned to action after a 6-week break to take on top of the league Eastcote 4s. The team comprised the usual blend of youth and experience and this week we also welcomed Jos for her first ever hockey match and Niamh playing her first game for Southgate.
The home side were quickly into gear attacking well initially down the right before switching to the left with some deft passing and the defence working well to snuff out any counter attacks. Sarah, driving strongly from the centre, engineered several PC chances but Eastcote defended solidly to deny any scoring opportunities.
It was against the run of play when the visitors made a break and gained their first PC. A good strike from the top of the D evaded the SG frontrunners requiring an impressive reaction from Kim on the left post to deflect the ball safely away. A smart response from the resulting long corner resulted in a sharp counter-attack and within minutes , a well-placed strike across the D from Sarah picked out Edie at the left post and her composed slot home belied her youth.
The second goal is still bit of a mystery to me as I didn’t know that we had scored until the end of the game….. but I am reliably informed that Edie put away her second from close range shortly after her first. Well done her!
The second half produced some even exchanges with the visitors more concise in their passing and the 5s regaining their shape after a slightly less focussed final first period. Both teams had their chances. Sharon picked up a lovely through ball and came close but could not quite negotiate the tight angle to the right of the post and Sarah crashed the ball home from the top of the D missing the inside of the post by inches.
At the other end Eastcote pressed hard and secured several short corners in succession but with the SG defence holding firm it was not until one of their attackers for once finding herself free at the top of the D ,took her opportunity to smash the ball home and get themselves on the scoresheet.
There was a moment of drama when the final whistle blew just as Eastcote had secured another PC giving one last opportunity to equal the score – or as I thought, win the game… , Unusually (these days) I found myself running out at 2 and somehow managed to block the shot . Moving away with the ball I could hear Kim ’shouting “Get it off the pitch’ as I jab-tackled it towards the sideline– which was further away than I thought i almost toppled to the ground with the effort ,but was finally able to push the ball across the line. Phew!
A good all round performance from the whole team with votes for for 5 players but Our MVP for this week was Edie for great movement and two well taken goals.
All remains very close at the top of the league with Eastcote still first and with a game in hand. Next game OMT away sitting equal on points with Southgate, also with game in hand. So all to play for in the coming weeks!