A Match Too Far...

COWHC 3s 1-2 Aldershot & Farnham 4s

01st February 2014

Match Report

An away match so far out we're bordering on needing passports, a pushback so late that anyone sensible is already in the bar, and all on the first weekend of the 6 Nations... Something of the perfect storm really that meant we played this game with only 10 players.  We actually had 11 people there, but unfortunately regular umpire Del wasn't one of them, so Martin had to take up the whistle.

Aldershot & Farnham are a tough team, and although we beat them before Christmas we had to work very hard to get the victory, which was our first against them.  Starting a man short therefore wasn't ideal, and when they won a short corner within the first couple of minutes I wondered if we could be on the end of our 3rd heavy defeat in a row.  However, I stopped the shot from the short on the line and as the first half progressed we started playing some of the best hockey I've seen from us in a long time.

Passing was crisp, quick and for the most part short, 50/50 balls were being won much more often than not and we were arguably the better team.  Just reward for the effort came midway through the half when a move down our right ended with a tempting ball right across the D.  Mike was first to it and finished with aplomb for his first goal of the season,

Unfortunately the lead didn't last too long.  A long ball out of defence found its way somehow to the edge of our D, where the opposition striker, back to goal, took a touch to control and then hit a reverse stick shot that went just inside the post.

Back on level pegging Aldershot's heads came up and what was already a tough game became even tougher.  Our effort never dropped though, and although they won a number of short corners we got to half time still at 1-1.

The second half saw us continue with the hard work and the excellent hockey, and an even, open game ensued.  We created some chances, one in particular for Trevor who was thwarted by ex-Croydon player Chris Kinal.  Aldershot continued to get more short corners and ended up taking the lead through one of them.  The short was played quickly back to the injector, who was able to get a very good shot away, although I could have possibly closed him down a bit quicker, and I think Paul is also a little disappointed that he didn't stop it either.

And that's how it remained.  Although the defeat was hard to take, it was a fantastic effort from the whole team.  That said, one player stood out and clearly merited getting POM - Angus, who stepped in to an unfamiliar right back position and looked like he'd always played there.