COWHC Men's 4s vs Merton Boars - 14th Oct 2017

Another Saturday, another 4pm start... fortunately (for us) this one was a home game. So after watching a hockey education from our Ladies 1s we decided to see whether we could emulate their winning ways.

A good, strong line up with a few new faces meant we had plenty of numbers - and they were needed. Merton are a very strong club and the Boars came at us hard from the start. We were very evenly matched sides, Vice-Captain Max (off the TV) returning to provide some added steel to the defence.

The first half ebbed and flowed with both sides creating good chances but not quite able to convert. Merton pulled a good save from Ciaran, I stopped a short corner on the line and another one went just over the bar. We had chances for Brad, Scott, Adam... nothing was coming off though - except for my aerial - yes, that's right folks, I tried one and it went high and straight to Nelly making the run infield from his wing! Oh, and Scott was sent off for a green card...

Half time was 0 - 0 and the consensus was to keep the defending as solid as it had been and hopefully we'd be the ones to get the breakthrough. It seemed like it was going to be a single-goal game, so let's work to make it ours.

Our movement and extra subs began to tell through the second half and the breakthrough was indeed on our side. A lovely passing move ended with Brad finishing from close range. 1 - 0

Merton kept coming, but the defence held firm and another quick move led to us getting a long corner. It was worked in to Akira at the top of the D, who held it up well before slipping it to Brad for another solid finish 2 - 0.

By now the game was getting stretched, and a Merton player didn't make life easier for them when he was asked to also take a 2 minute break on the sidelines. I don't think the third goal came then, I believe they were back at a full quota when Griff made a superb break down the right wing. Cutting inside he pulled the ball back to Scott, who played it though to Adam. With a deft touch through his and the keeper's legs it was 3 - 0.

The opposition, to their credit, kept working hard and got some reward when a brief lapse at the back saw a cross get through to one of their strikers, who was one on one with Ciaran and finished well.

Final score was 3 - 1.

POM was Griff.

Thanks to Martin for umpiring and everyone who hung around to watch us.