2nd Team Vs Solihull Bloss

This weeks game was away against Solihull Blossomfield who were 3rd in the league so we expected a tougher game than the previous week.

The first 5 minutes seemed to bear this out as the started quickly and pressed high up the pitch catching us a bit on the back foot and pushing us back towards our own D. Things also looked a bit iffy when Ricky "the aerial" Lally lifted his first attempt about a foot of the floor and his second went straight out of play from a sideline. However, we managed to absorb this early pressure and soon started to turn the tables as we started to string some passes together and pushed them back into their own half.

Our first goal came from some nice interplay between a few players (can't remember who) and the ball found it's way to Ed Hole, and to quote the man himself, "a strong precise hit into the D, deft flick into the corner by Matt", 1-0.

We maintained the pressure and shortly after won a short corner that was dispatched by Ricky into the bottom left corner, not a back board breaker but it did cross the line. This prompted some arguing amongst the Bloss players, always a good sign you're on top. They particularly didn't like the Ricky aerials as they were unable to deal with them, their midfield just watched them as they sailed over them, mouths wide open in wonder and their defense seemed to have brought a batch of sticks full of holes as they were unable to stop them.

Half time 2-0

We expected an onslaught from Solihull at the start of the second half and they did start quickly again and tried to put pressure on us but this soon fizzled out like a wet sparkler. Anything they did try and build was soon quoshed either by our central midfield of Stu "you shall not pass" Upton and Andy "duracell bunny" Hobley or our stout defense robbing the ball before they even noticed. Ricky continued to throw aerials and we started to play the ball wide and took control of the game.

Unfortunately at this point we did have a man down, Al Brown typically putting his body on the line took the ball flush on the hand and without the need of a doctor or google self diagnosed the issue "it's broken" was the cry and off he went to nurse his pinky.

Our third goal came from some good build up play down the right that saw Andy break into the D, the keeper sensing a cross moved out to mark our forwards and Andy slotted the ball in behind him from a narrow angle.

The final goal came from an inspirational decision from the Captain, following another early departure as Stew Upton went off with a dodgy hamstring Ed Hole found himself oin Centre Midfield. Sensing his discomfort the captain pushed Ed up front and took up position in centre mid. Literally 5 seconds later the ball was injected into the D and Ed swept the ball into the goal - genious.

Somewhere amongst all of this Sam Buckley having been industrious and not sent off was provided with an accurate, perfectly weighted pass, sans keeper, open goal begging to be hit and he missed, wah wah wahhhh.

Anyway, it was a great performance by all, definately the best hockey we have played all season.

MOM - DC