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Sat 04 Feb 2017 · Hampshire/Surrey 2
London Edwardians 2
Mens 1st XI
4
1
COWHC Men's 1s vs London Edwardians Men's 2s - 04th February 2017
Christopher Maundrell6 Feb 2017 - 09:22
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We lost 4 - 1 By Shaun
After the success of my memoirs from last week I have been ‘asked’ to do a second match report through a vote that was more rigged than a Zimbabwean election.
Saturday the 4th of February saw 3rd placed London Ed’s host 1st placed CROWs in a vitally important game in the battle for promotion. Looking through the team sheet on Thursday there were a number of notably big names missing. Smudge, Timbo and Ed all had coaching duties, Belly is still living it up in the US of A, Dom was too lazy to make the three hour trip back on a hangover and to top it off, Captain Feebs called in sick at 3am on Friday evening.
With six regulars missing, and the majority of them down the spine of the field, there was a rather sombre mood around the camp during our pre-match preparation and warm up. We were, however, quietly determined to get the job done and knew we would need to take every opportunity that presented itself.
The match started fairly evenly, with Ed’s probably just having the better of the opening exchanges. There was one guilt edged opportunity in the first ten minutes where Shaan (I mean Nicky) found Kumar whose shot from five yards out was quickly smothered by the keeper. Soon afterwards Ed's won a short corner which they ran quite shabbily. The ball was spooned into the D and a weak strike was taken at goal. Dovey, remembering that CROWs always play better when they come from behind, nicely tapped the strike into the path of the injector who tapped in from a yard. 1-0 Ed’s.
Within five minutes Ed’s won a second short corner and this time they ran a much slicker routine. A slip left off the injection was drilled across goal where the ball was deflected in. 2-0 Ed's. However the CROWs weren’t out of the game and had a strong spell just before the end of the half and won a short corner. With all of our usual short corner takers unavailable the decision was made to go route one through the ‘Hammer of Thor' that is Ewan's straight strike. And hammer it home he did. 2-1 and half time.
The second half started with CROWs in the ascendancy and they manufactured a fine chance when Kumar slipped the ball to Benj ten yards out and his snap shot was jammily saved by the keeper as it came off the inside of his left foot, between his legs and off the baseline on the right of the goal. CROWs continued to press high up the pitch, cutting out Ed's favoured pattern of play which is to transfer the ball all the way up the pitch. (A pattern they used with great success the last time we played). The press was mostly effective and for a good period Ed's were rattled and moved to a half court press to soak up the pressure.
As the game wore on the momentum of the game began to shift and Ed's had a sustained period of pressure. The CROWs soaked up the pressure valiantly, defending short corner after short corner, and each time either Chaundy would make the save or a defender such as Shaan (I mean Nicky) would snuff out the threat.
With five minutes to go Ed's won another short. It was another poor routine, but as so often happens with mishaps, it led to the killer goal. The ball was injected to the right of the castle. An attacker picked the ball up, driving it to the right and then drilling an unstoppable shot across the goal. 3-1 Ed's.
With the game almost out of reach, CROWs went 3 at the back but were caught on the break and Ed's converted to finish the game 4-1.
Rather than having a sombre debrief, the team were highly positive of the performance which was full of guts, grit and determination in a backs to the wall match against a quality outfit (and with half our regular team missing). After the game the umpires mentioned how well we had applied ourselves and that our attitude was faultless throughout. This is high praise and something we should continue to emulate in matches to come.
The final thought for the day has to come down to one word, pride. Pride in our performance, pride in our work ethic, pride in each other and in knowing that we will never give up. This isn't a movement that stops due to hard times or defeat. We are the CROWS and we are relentless.
Saturday the 4th of February saw 3rd placed London Ed’s host 1st placed CROWs in a vitally important game in the battle for promotion. Looking through the team sheet on Thursday there were a number of notably big names missing. Smudge, Timbo and Ed all had coaching duties, Belly is still living it up in the US of A, Dom was too lazy to make the three hour trip back on a hangover and to top it off, Captain Feebs called in sick at 3am on Friday evening.
With six regulars missing, and the majority of them down the spine of the field, there was a rather sombre mood around the camp during our pre-match preparation and warm up. We were, however, quietly determined to get the job done and knew we would need to take every opportunity that presented itself.
The match started fairly evenly, with Ed’s probably just having the better of the opening exchanges. There was one guilt edged opportunity in the first ten minutes where Shaan (I mean Nicky) found Kumar whose shot from five yards out was quickly smothered by the keeper. Soon afterwards Ed's won a short corner which they ran quite shabbily. The ball was spooned into the D and a weak strike was taken at goal. Dovey, remembering that CROWs always play better when they come from behind, nicely tapped the strike into the path of the injector who tapped in from a yard. 1-0 Ed’s.
Within five minutes Ed’s won a second short corner and this time they ran a much slicker routine. A slip left off the injection was drilled across goal where the ball was deflected in. 2-0 Ed's. However the CROWs weren’t out of the game and had a strong spell just before the end of the half and won a short corner. With all of our usual short corner takers unavailable the decision was made to go route one through the ‘Hammer of Thor' that is Ewan's straight strike. And hammer it home he did. 2-1 and half time.
The second half started with CROWs in the ascendancy and they manufactured a fine chance when Kumar slipped the ball to Benj ten yards out and his snap shot was jammily saved by the keeper as it came off the inside of his left foot, between his legs and off the baseline on the right of the goal. CROWs continued to press high up the pitch, cutting out Ed's favoured pattern of play which is to transfer the ball all the way up the pitch. (A pattern they used with great success the last time we played). The press was mostly effective and for a good period Ed's were rattled and moved to a half court press to soak up the pressure.
As the game wore on the momentum of the game began to shift and Ed's had a sustained period of pressure. The CROWs soaked up the pressure valiantly, defending short corner after short corner, and each time either Chaundy would make the save or a defender such as Shaan (I mean Nicky) would snuff out the threat.
With five minutes to go Ed's won another short. It was another poor routine, but as so often happens with mishaps, it led to the killer goal. The ball was injected to the right of the castle. An attacker picked the ball up, driving it to the right and then drilling an unstoppable shot across the goal. 3-1 Ed's.
With the game almost out of reach, CROWs went 3 at the back but were caught on the break and Ed's converted to finish the game 4-1.
Rather than having a sombre debrief, the team were highly positive of the performance which was full of guts, grit and determination in a backs to the wall match against a quality outfit (and with half our regular team missing). After the game the umpires mentioned how well we had applied ourselves and that our attitude was faultless throughout. This is high praise and something we should continue to emulate in matches to come.
The final thought for the day has to come down to one word, pride. Pride in our performance, pride in our work ethic, pride in each other and in knowing that we will never give up. This isn't a movement that stops due to hard times or defeat. We are the CROWS and we are relentless.
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