COWHC Men's 3s vs PW Men's 4s - 21st Oct 2017

The Mighty 3s lined up slightly later than the previous weeks 08:00 meet at the Clubhouse, in a buoyant mood and ready for a tough game ahead. The opposition, Purley Walcountians, has been in outrageous form, almost too good to be believed……Picking up a 9-0, a 4-0 and another decent win before meeting the mighty CROWS took to the field of battle.

In the build up to the game dP gave us the usual inspired speech, work-rate, possession, composure and something else which I’ve forgotten. EDIT: The final point turned out to be discipline.

The CROWS warmed up well, Indy loudly humming Shania Twain’s classic “Man, I feel like a woman”, which raised a couple of eyebrows, but nevertheless we started the game, with PWs pushing back.

1-0 CROWS. CROWS dominated in the early tosses and turns of the game. Jim – He Scores when he plays – Swift was up to his usual tricks. Mulley Mulley Mulley….MULLEY drew two of the PWs defenders out of the way, snuck the ball back smartly to Swifty who unleashed his inner Kim Jong-un and sent an absolute rocket into the bottom corner. Lovely.

Green Card – Local hero Dave Harvey takes one for the team, confusing not being 5 metres for not being 2 metres and picks up the two minute sin bin.

Half Time – Hutch sat on fence in regards to our ability to secure a short corner. dP applied the classic 4 principles which every 3s player lives and dies by. Heads on, second half underway.

CROWS were banging on the door for an absolute age, draining PWs spirits. Special mentions to TC for hitting the post off the short corner and the front line for a repeated barrage.

2-0 CROWS. TC shoots on goal, a PWs defender caught between a rock and a hard place stops the ball on the line as Stevie Cooper shot on target as part of our short corner routine. PENALTY FLICK is awarded. Indy steps up to take the flick, humming “it’s raining men”, queuing further eyebrows raises. To his credit, this was a high-pressure flick in a game which could of easily gone against us. Up steps Chatwal, nails it. The ball flicking up off the backboard with the zip of a salmon up stream.

3-0 CROWS. After sublime play towards the goal, Mulley flicks the ball in, fitting of a classic deflection, which any mainstream politician would’ve been proud of.

3-1 PWs. To their credit, PWs did have some tricky players, one in particular dribbled through our backline and finished a smart reverse hit into the roof of our net. Fair play.

3-2 PWs. We all fell asleep. In that classic schoolboy routine, PWs took a quick short corner. Phil, the keeper was the first out. Putting me in a shameful position, running wave 1. They bury it in the bottom corner.

At this point PWs morale was high and were pressing heavily for the equaliser. I’d be lying if I was saying that the mighty 3s were feeling a bit on edge by this point in time.

4-2 CROWS. GET IN! COME ON! Mulley with the flick into the bottom corner. I’ve got to be honest, I can’t remember it, so let’s say it as a carbon copy of his first goal. Well done Mulley.

Special Mentions to:
Lewis – Great game, really strong work ethic, composure on the ball, tracking back and tackling

Hutch – Usual wizardry at the back

dP – Great flat stick tackling on their two playmakers, earning him MoM, seriously good effort here. Including a long barrier tackling and a “this is men’s hockey” to their whinging centre forward. Strong contender for DoD however for wearing a cap backwards for the whole game.

Phil – Again another strong performance in goal, definitely earning his match fee in the higher league this year.

Me – For covering more distance than Mo Farrah, distributing like Andre Pirlo and tackling like a hero. You’re welcome.

Mulley – Usual running Heroics and a couple of goals

TC – For being decent

All in all an absolute pleasure today boys, good luck for next week!
Thoughts with Ben Ellis – hope the House Boat is back in working order soon!

Fin.