COWHC Men's 4s vs Woking Wasps - 30th Sept 2017

New season, new league, new(ish) line-up... Yes, the mighty COWHC 4th team rolled up at lunchtime on a sunny September Saturday to start their adventure in the lofty heights of Surrey Open Div 3!

The nucleus of the promotion winning side was present, although captain Adam and vice-captain Max showing a distinct lack of devotion to the cause had decided their time would be better served shooting at discs of pitch and pulverized limestone... Scott therefore took over the key duties for the day and had assembled a strong squad of 12.

The spine of Hoops, yours truly, Scott, Ross and Brad looked solid, there was pace out wide with Nelly and youth in young James making his first start, after only one training session. Slotting in around that were Jude, Josh, Jon and Karl with Ciaran taking up station between the posts. What a line-up!

The whistle blew for the first half and Scott took off like a steam train, huffing, puffing and steam coming from his ears, he blasted through into the D, one on one with the keeper who, in the process of making the save, sent Scott head over heels and landing in a heap. 15 seconds into the game, and already the man held together with bits of tape was in pieces! He manfully picked himself up though and the game continued.

COWs were playing some wonderful hockey for so early in the season, and it was no surprise therefore that the first goal arrived quite soon into the match. Brad taking the ball, driving forward and nutmegging the Woking keeper with a reverse stick shot into the back of the net.

Our high press was causing the oppo lots of problems, with James and Jude sticking tight to their opponents, there was no real way out from the back for Woking. Goal 2 arrived from more good work through the team, again finished with aplomb by Brad. Try as we might, there were no more goals in the first half, so we went into the interval with something of a cushion, but one that can be precarious.

And so it almost proved. Right from the start of the second half Woking pushed forward. The restart came unexpectedly to me, I fluffed the clearance and soon the oppo were pushing into our D to win a short. Despite a succession of perhaps 10 short corners however, the COW defence held firm, and when the hit finally went our way, Hoops lifted an aerial into the Woking half. Brad and Nelly combined to see the latter finishing well under pressure from the 'keeper.

That was probably the crucial moment. From having to defend tightly to scoring lifted our heads and saw some of the Woking team drop.

From then on, the slick running and passing of the mighty 4s wove patterns around the Woking team. Another goal from Nelly was followed by a tap-in for Jon after jug avoidance unselfish play by Brad. There could have been more goals too, one wonderful burst from me through the middle, a one-two with Scott and I crossed the ball into the D where Nelly connected with a great shot... into Brad!

5 - 0 the final score, some great hockey, some brilliant performances... here's hoping the rest of the season continues in the same vein!

POM was James for an excellent debut performance.

Thanks to Ollie for umpiring.