COWHC Men's 4s vs Horley Men's 2s - 06th Jan 2018

In 2017 a Croydon hockey team was promoted to SOHL Div 3 after a great run of results. These men promptly entered club folklore and set forth for new adventures. Today, still living on past glories, they fight for survival in their new division. If you play hockey, if no-one else will take you, and if you can find them, maybe you can play for
THE 4TH TEAM
*Cue the music*
Season 17/18; Episode 11 - Prodigal Son
Scene Lieutenant Colonel Adam 'Ratcatcher' Williams welcomes his motley crew to a secret location for the first game of the second half of the season. Corporal 'Bad Dog' Ford returns to the side after having been court martialed for various indiscretions. Sergeant Scott 'Broken Man' Netherway is present but unavailable due to a 'skiing' injury (his right arm is in a sling, and we all know the real reason...). Keeper Pell has been honorary discharged to be replaced by Phil 'The Bowl' Hoare. The rest of the faces were familiar, the formation slightly less, with 'Old Man' Maundrell stepping into midfield to leave Lieutenant Max 'TV' Carracher and James 'Horny' Hornsby to anchor the defence.
The mission - to overcome a the Christmas food and drink side-effects against a strong looking Horley side.
*The Action*
The first half starts and, despite the festive lay-off, the unit looks well drilled. Old Man and Burke are running the middle, while Brazier's pace up front creates havoc. TV and Horny meanwhile are letting nothing through.
Midway in and Burke breaks into the D and wins a short corner. The Colonel calls the shots, takes the shot, and drills the ball into the bottom corner. "I love it when a plan comes together!" he says while running back to the halfway line.
Sadly the plan comes unstuck as, after some honesty from the Old Man, Horley get a long corner. From this, they win a short which they too convert.
1 - 1 at half time.
*Ads*
The second half followed much the same pattern. The 4th team in the ascendency early on saw another short won. A bit of a scramble saw Brazier finish and The 4th Team were on top again. But there was to be no happy ending, as the enemy broke at pace (how dare they) and one of their snipers finished through The Bowl's legs.

Not quite the hockey equivalent of taking three lengths of lead pipe, some ball bearings and gaffer tape to create a Challenger 2 tank, but some promising signs.

Credits:
POM - Horny
DOD - Shared by Nelly and Brazier
Umpire - Rochie
Support & Braving Frostbite - VFB