COWHC Men's 3s vs Leatherhead Men's 2s - 25th Nov 2017

It was a very cold and crisp day on Saturday for a game of Hockey, with CHS looking sparkling white in the morning hopes of the game going ahead were low but thankfully we were on at 14:30 so we had half a chance the sun would shine and melt the frozen pitch.

Rocking up an hour before push back and find the pitch has defrosted, GAME ON! Team warm up consisted of the much needed and important - crossbar challenge, P-Flick challenge, and other useful drills.

Leatherhead slowly dripped onto the pitch with the last of their squad of 9 turning up at 14:30. Pushback was 15 minutes late in the hope that some more might turn up. It may or may not also have been delayed thanks to a certain Captain forgetting to supply a Match Ball for the push back which won him DoD.

Croydon were out for blood having fielded their strongest side to date, we even had subs! 4 minutes in Crodyon drew first blood. Leatherhead's forward was tackled by the Godlike dP,dP passed it to Will Cooledge, Will passed it wide, and a quick ball passed across the D for Indy to slot home for the 1st of Croydon's 9 goals.

We became a little complacent for 5 minutes as we had a high press allowing a cheeky aerial to get to Leatherhead's quick forward. Hounded by dP he was pushed wide of the D but as he turned in dP jabbed the ball only to find it running up his stick into his chest. Short Corner given. A well taken strike wrong footed Phil and went in on the post. 1-1

A quick rallying cry went out and Croydon were back on it, the second goal coming again from an outstanding reaching tackle at the top of the D by dP, a quick 8 yard pass to Neil who shipped it up the line to a waiting Pads. Pads miscontrolled but recovered quickly passed to Indy, Indy slipped it back to Pads who by now was in the D. Pads touched the ball to deflect it past the keep and across the goal to bounce in off the post. 2-1 Croydon.

From here it became a blur of fast pass and move play that even with all 9 of Leatherhead's players sitting in their 23 just couldn't stop or hold up Croydon. Goal! Goal! GOAL! so many just flew in it was becoming a little embarrassing.

Half time whistle blew and the score was confirmed by the umpire that it was 9-1. Goals from Indy (5), Mulley (2), Swifty (1), and Pads (1).

Resumption of the game short and only two minutes in when a Leatherhead player twisted his ankle badly. Play was stopped, and umpires and captains were called in. Agreement was made that a 9-1 win would suffice and that we would call the game early. Turns out that Leatherhead were down to 7 players thanks to another player just walking off during half time not wanting to continue playing. This early stop also meant we could get back and watch the second half of the England game!

Thank you to Henners for umpiring, and thank you to Mulley for filling in on umpire while we waited for Henners.

PoM - Indy (just) for his almost double hat trick.
DoD - dP - for forgetting to supply the match ball
Goals: Indy (5), Mulley (2), Swifty (1), Pads (1)

Bring on next week!