COWHC Mens 3s vs Surbiton Sparticans - 24 October 2015

The sub-title to this game could easily be "Dropping Like Flies".

I suppose we should have realised things wouldn't go that well for us when, just before push back our captain, Cleashy, was stuck in traffic making his way from the 4s game... bringing the keeper's kit and our 11th player!

Frantic late phone calls on Friday meant that Surbiton were kindly supplying both umpires, so we were able to at least start the game with 9 players on the pitch, Martin volunteering to play as a kicking-back. With Hutch shouting instructions to keep the team organised and Hoops providing a focal point in midfield, we actually kept the opposition restricted to a couple of half chances. The back line of Hutch, John, AJ and Chris were intercepting almost everything that Surbiton tried to play through. The closest the opposition came to making their extra players count in those first 10 minutes was a lifted shot that Martin and Chris somehow, between them, managed to deflect not just over the bar but over the fence!

Cleashy and Mike arrived like the cavalry and we spread into a proper formation. Unfortunately, almost as soon as he came onto the pitch Mike got a ball right on the ankle from short range which left him hobbling for the rest of the game. Despite this we actually managed to gain the upper hand. The ball was being switched around well and the the width and running provided by James, Cleashy, Ash and Dav meant that Surbiton were being pulled all over the pitch.

The pay off came when Cleashy picked the ball up just to the left of the D, dribbled across to the right and cracked an unstoppable shot back across goal and into the top corner.

Shortly afterwards we suffered a setback when Hoops tore his calf and had to hobble off. So for the end of the first half we were down to 10, or 9 1/2 given Mike was struggling to move to well. But we kept the effort level up and were able to go into half time in the lead.

At half time the talk was basically to keep doing what we were doing, while Hoops bravely volunteered to find some strapping and come back on to make a nuisance of himself up front. Meanwhile Martin had put on the keeper's kit and we were ready to go.

Then, what we had previously thought was the cavalry, turned into Custer's Last Stand as Cleashy pulled something. With Mike seizing up as well we were down to 8 fit players. This was enough for the opposition to start to find gaps and, while not dominant, they began to control the game more.

A few short corners came as a result of their pressure and they scored from one. The receiver played the ball right and, although Chris running out second managed to get out and close the guy with the ball down, he still managed to get away a reverse stick shot that was touched in at the far post by one of his team mates.

We we disappointed to concede, but kept going and actually created a couple of chances that, had our forward line not all been playing on one leg each, would probably have been converted.

Then came the sucker punch. A break, a shot half saved by Martin although it still trickled towards goal, Chris scrambling back stretching and, despite the ball not having any great speed, I couldn't get my stick in the way in time and Surbiton were ahead.

Yet there was still time for a twist (nearly two) in the tale. Hutch played a long ball forward which Hoops controlled, drew a foul leading to a short corner. From this Hutch played the ball to Cleashy who finished well and we were back level.

Both teams had a couple of chances before the end of the match. The closest for Surbiton towards the end, which would have proved the cruellest of twists. Martin saved a shot which looped into the air and the ball was dropping towards the back post. Chris and the guy he was marking were both running towards the goal, the question was would it be a simple tap-in or a clearance... fortunately somehow Chris made it there first to make a volleyed reverse stick clearance.

An outstanding effort from our team meant a very hard-fought but well deserved point that, with everyone fit, could have been a victory. Apparently the league don't recognise moral wins, but we're definitely chalking that one mentally in the W column!