MP-C writes:

Scorers: Charlie W (4) , Corni K

On St Crispin’s & Crispinian’s Day the 3rd team once again took to the field of battle. It was a cold day, but the sun did try to break through the clouds, it did indeed feel like a proper hockey morning as everyone gathered on the killing ground to warm up there limbs, tests their bows and clad themselves in the modern day armour of a hockey player. 593 years to the day a small army gathered on a field near Agincourt to put the rightful king on the throne of France and the 3rds had similar expectations as even though the opposition outnumbered the 3rds they new they had to win for their own survival and to continue the winning start.

Once again there was indeed an age difference as the 3rds Men-At-Arms were more Veterans and had been at many previous great victories. The opposition had many a squire, pageboy, knight and it could be another difficult morning with the 3rds lack of pace but this was not going to be an obstacle as we had cunning, a great belief that the lord was on our side and after 30 minutes warming up we could just about put our set pieces into some reasonable order. The captain took on the mantle of Henry the 5th and gave the battle cry of St George as the 3rds took there places on the field with the Men-At-Arms in the centre, the archers on either flank and finally at the back the fully armoured black night himself. Lucky enough, not like Agincourt the two teams did not foul themselves with nerves before battle but I am sure James M kit did smell like a toilet at the end of any festival.

The game commenced a leisurely pace as both team tried to find the weakness within each other defences and both probe with lances seeing if there where the first attack would come from. But soon Corni did break down the centre and crossed to Charlie who was free at the top of the D. He had enough time to stop the ball, scratch his bald head, tie his shoe laces and even get a bag of crisps down his throat but know he slapped the ball at the first opportunity and sent the shot wide. From the side lines the Coach and Captain screamed at him that he had so much time and concentrate. However, was this thing to come? The first Goal was of a similar approach. As we noticed a large space behind the LB of the opposition and after some excellent play in the midfield from Bill Edgar and John Horn the ball came to Corni and he did his normal (pace/shot) without looking up and the ball came to Charlie who was free on the P spot and pushed the ball pace the keeper for one nil. Then it started dominance from the midfield and not much pressure from the opposition so that it was possible for the 3rds to encamp on the oppositions 25yrd line and the great communication from the defence meant that the long ball options were being cut off and then it was like the tide as wave after wave from the forwards broke on the oppositions goal mouth but yet with all this pressure we could not get the 2nd goal but the pressure did pay of and some very good passing movement from the midfield to the back and around again to Paul Earwaker who was playing out of position but did very well as a half. The ball game was fed to Charlie who got his 2nd. But this was a bad thing as after that he did keep trying to hard to get his hat rick when some other opposition were open to him, but this was not just his fault but rather down to the number of opportunities and options open and that final ball or goal scoring opportunity falling to many just did not go into the back of the net. The coach did comment that we were not trying to get shorts due to the many opportunities we were having in front of goal. But then the best goal of the 1st half a move that would make Arsenal/Chelsea or Man Utd applauds. It was one touch hockey as the ball was passed around by all the players and even around the keeper as Corni had just to push it into an empty net due to the unselfishness of the other forwards.

The 2nd had continued in a similar vain. But it was not all about the 3rds constant pressure there were some mistakes as we tried to hard to win the game with further goals. Bruce was nutmeg by a 10 year old page boy and this did bring James into the contest for his only two touches of the game. Toby had two very good runs from the halfway line into the D but his push flicks were well saved by the keeper. The fourth goal was a goal mouth scramble and some good chasing from Rob and Corny got the ball to Charlie and he got his Hat rick. The finally goal came from one of the many 2nd half short corner routines working when Charlie got more of an angle and was able to get the ball into the corner of the net. By this time James was so bored he was prone in his own D playing cowboys and shooting the players. Marcus, Bruce and Andy had kept the team first clean sheet which was a bonus. Rob lost his lead in the men’s goal scoring league as Charlie now pips his four by one but it is good to have some competition!

As Div 7 of the MBBO is coming a goal feast and the 3rds should have got to double figures if we had been a little more creative and accurate in front of goal. But we all did our work and got the result we needed to keep the challenge on the top of the league. Next week will a different challenge as we take on our old rivals Sonning who have started there campaign without dropping a point too?