COWHC Mens 3s v Sunbury and Walton Hawks Men's 5s - 20 February 2016

After missing last week's hard fought draw I'm back with my Dickie Davies eyes and storytelling skills to enter another match report for COWHC 3s. Let me entertain you:

Although we'd beaten Sunbury comprehensively pre-Christmas, we never forget that this is a tough league, and with away games everything changes. We had a strong line up though, strengthened by Hoops' last minute decision to add to the bodies available.

The match started quite slowly in actual fact, almost as though we were in the lazy days of summer than the cold, overcast time of winter. However one thing this team has is patience, and we gradually upped our pace, movement and passing levels. The opposition were strong, but we took the lead with a flowing move. Starting with a sideline hit on the left, the ball was worked through the defence to the right and then through the midfield before Ben and Corny combined brilliantly up front for Corny to reach out and tuck the ball away. Could it be magic? The way those two mesh it could well be!

Sunbury had given us a few thing to think about themselves, Phil keeping a couple of shots at bay. We got lucky at one point when a shot from a short corner hit Martin on the chest, but as it was more a strike than a flick a 16 was given instead of a P-flick. Otherwise we did well to not come undone and went into half time in the lead.

Now pray isn't the right word for the team talk, more a call for confidence, be sure with the passes and we'd shine.

And shine we did as, early on, another good break saw Corny through one-on-one with their keeper. These days he has so much composure that he drew the goalie into making the first move, took the ball round him and the, like a rock DJ, slotted home.

But, as we all know, it only takes a minute for things to change, and so it proved when Sunbury threw a hopeful aerial ball forward. Hoops reached for it, but couldn't get a clean connection, succeding only in deflecting it towards the D. Phil then, unfortunately, did somethin' stupid and fluffed his lines, leaving the Sunbury centre forward with a chance that was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

With only 1 goal things were a little bit fraught, especially given the flood of short corners that we suddenly started conceding. However the defence reigned supreme and we held firm.

There was even a good chance for us to regain our 2 goal advantage when Ben made a superb run through their defence. He and Corny again attempted to exchange passes, although this time it didn't quite work. However, a huge gap had opened following Ben's run and I trundled up from left back to fill it. Faced with an empty goal I could already hear the angels singing... calling to Corny to square the ball to me I was envisaging something beautiful and then saw Corny strike the ball high and wide! Shame on you Mr Cornwall! (Although to be fair, you know me well and I would no doubt have still missed!)

We hung on though and, while this might not have been out greatest day, I sincerely hope the winning feeling is back for good and we will rule the world... or at least Surrey Open Div 4!

POM went to Mr Composure, Corny, while DOD was Mr Airshot, Phil