Week 3

Match Reports For Week 3 Sat. 16th Sept. Season 2000 - 2001

Mens 1st XI

No report submitted.

Mens 2nd XI

No report submitted.

Mens 3rd XI

Staines Men’s 3’s - Match Report 16 September 2000. V. Milton Keynes.

The Championship winning Blue Army Third Battalion travelled to the beautiful City of Roundabouts (Milton Keynes) for a pre-season friendly game of Hockey. We were expecting a stiff test from a team of a standard we will be expected to match in the coming season.

The 3’s bravely overcame the first hurdle - finding enough petrol to make the trip. The second problem, keeping Andy Taylor out of the nearby woods, was more tricky but also dealt with effectively. Then there was the third problem - Milton Keynes……….

The match opened brightly for the 3’s with a number of incisive attacks and confident play, creating several good chances - one which struck the post from a Dean O’Brien shot. Unfortunately soon after, MKs created a lightening break and via their very good Centre forward, scored their first goal. This was despite Stu’s best efforts to break the MK’s players stick with his bare knuckles.

It has to be said that the water based astro was in a terrible state being more slippery than an eel in a slippyest eel contest sponsored by Castrol GTX. (Apparently there had been a cock-up on the pitch maintenance contract front.). Unfortunately this resulted in the match appearing at times more like an ice skating championship - without the grace and finesse.

Shortly before half time MKs were awarded a P-flick which they duly put away, and despite a late attacking flurry and a short corner by Staines, we were 2-0 down at half time.

Our confidence at being capable of getting back on level terms in the second half was severely dented when MKs managed to score their 3^rd goal within 30 seconds of the restart. Courageously Staines battled on, Andy Taylor careering around like Bambi on ice and Richard Hudson torpedoing across the surface at every opportunity. Eventually we gained a goal after a melee in which the ball eventually fell to Alpesh to tap in, purring with delight as he finished.

MKs proceeded to score a disputed 4^th goal, the offence was not spotted by the Umpire, Deano clearly made his case to the Umpire, who, clearly made his case in return by ordering Dean to conduct a detailed survey of the back of the goal for 10 minutes. To Staines disappointment a 5^th goal was also allowed to stand despite being clearly struck by the reverse face of the stick.

Despite losing 6-1 we still enjoyed the afternoons Hockey, it was good experience and we remain confident that we can compete at the higher level demanded this season coming.