Men’s 3rd XI put in promising performance
ABINGDON HOCKEY CLUB 3RD TEAM MATCH REPORT 27th Feb 2010
SONNING 3 1 ABINGDON
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE THIRDS GET STUFFED
Another game featuring young, fast and skilful forwards who kept us pinned down in our own half for long stretches of the whole game. However there is a resolute steeliness to our defence, particularly since the arrival of John Barron who very rarely lets anyone past him and uses all sorts of methods to stop them. Not bad for a man who will soon be getting his bus pass. It was also good to have our Zimbabwean trio together, offering us the possibility of a breakaway. Sonning`s forwards were getting frustrated and then, ten minutes before half time the unthinkable happened ! We took the lead ! Several things happened which do not normally happen.
A good clearance to one of our players, Froggy.
He stopped and controlled the ball.
He got into their D WITH THE BALL !
The keeper came out and Froggy somehow slipped the ball past him.
The ball rolled agonisingly slowly over the goal line.
Being in the lead at half time was quite a novel experience and Malcolm was unable to give us any advice on how to deal with this new emotion. Our defence continued its sterling efforts to keep these young skilful players out but in the end they proved too strong and scored three in the second half, two from short corners and one fine strike from open play.
In the evening the club met up at the Kings Head and Bell at 8.00 for a very pleasant evening, I hope this will become a weekly event. Froggy, Tony, Phil and I represented the thirds. Lets do it again next week
Richard Smart
