Match Report by Alessandro Onano

In this week’s prestigious clash, we faced Hampstead & Westminster ZH, currently second in the league and among the contenders for promotion.

The 4s started defensively, striving to contain the pressure from the formidable white and blue side. We maintained order and sought to be dangerous in attack, with Huw frequently catching the opposition’s defence off guard with his aerial plays. However, the red and blacks weren’t quite sharp enough to capitalise on these opportunities. H&W expertly leveraged their ball possession, taking a 2-0 lead through two close-range deflections.

Undeterred, our team continued to play and fight hard. A goal from a short corner by Huw (who else?) brought us back into the fray, creating chances to equalise. But the skilled opposition goalkeeper thwarted every threat, leaving the score at 2-1 as the first half concluded.

The second half appeared more balanced, yet still slightly tilted in favour of the home team. H&W extended their lead to 3-1 following a scrambled play, with their attacker smartly netting the ball after an initial save from our goalkeeper.

This setback didn’t dampen the spirits of the 4s, who intensified their attacks. The scoreline was narrowed to 3-2 after a persistent effort, with Zech skillfully scoring amidst a scramble. There was still time and opportunities to draw level, but the team lacked the needed composure in front of the goal, and H&W adeptly managed the final minutes to secure all three points.

Despite not managing to secure at least a point, the team can take pride in a characterful performance tinged with the disappointment of a near miss.

MoM Sam Rowson (gk)