COWHC Men's 4 vs Old Kingstonian Men's 2s - 24th Feb 2018

Season 17/18; Episode 18 - Train Ride to Defeat

Special Guest Stars: Dave "Author" Colley, Johnny G and Big Bad Bob

A lunchtime pushback at Kingston Grammar School saw half of the 4s take on the challenge of London's rail network in a brave move to avoid traffic. It worked, and we arrived at the venue to see the opposition captain using what looked a protective pad from a rugby post to measure out the pitch! Apparently this particular pitch is being relaid in the summer, and with most of the markings now faded, this was the only way to work out where to put the goals!

The start was then delayed while we waited for the opposition umpire to arrive. While we waited, the 4s kept warm by passing the ball around amongst ourselves. This seemed to work as, when the match finally got underway, we played some great hockey. JPesus, Broken Man and Author were rock solid in the middle, with Old Man and Johnny G covering in behind.

10 minutes in, Old Man played a quick 16 to young James at left back. He took it forward and a couple of passes later the ball was on the Colonel's stick in the D. With the composure of a true leader, he calmly finished and we were 1 - 0 up.

A few minutes later and it was 2. Big Bad Bob's movement was causing havoc in the OKs defence and a space opened up through the middle of the pitch that Broken Man (I think) exploited. He drilled the ball hard at Ratcatcher, who deflected it for his second goal.

The scoreline might have been in our favour, but the match was pretty even, with OKs fielding a number of youngsters - younger even than James! - with some handy skills and even handier pace. As the half came to an end, a move down their right ended with a shot on goal. Was it deflected? Was it deliberately lifted? Whatever, the ball rocketed at such a pace towards the net that unfortunately all Karl covering could do was deflect it in.

2 - 1 at half time. We were in the lead! But we were feeling it, it was a cold day and we'd been running hard both in attack and defence. We wanted this though!

The second half was as even as the first. The 4s were playing some great stuff, but for whatever reason the chances weren't coming as much as they had in the first half. Unfortunately for us, the chances that did come were for OKs, and they quickly converted 2 to take the lead.

Then we won a short. Old Man trundled up from the back to inject, the ball shot to the skipper, who stopped and played it back in towards Jim who wound up... and got the ball caught in his feet. Chance to level gone.

We kept pushing, but got caught again as OKs scored a fourth. Had it not been for The Bowl making a superb flying save with his head they could have had a fifth.

With about 5 minutes to go we won another short. Up I went again, the injection went straight to Scott... his first shot was blocked, his second attempt too, but at the third time of asking he slotted the ball home.

4 - 3, with still time to try to draw level. Try as we might though, the equaliser didn't materialise and we again lost by the odd goal.

Still, England were bound to win later that afternoon, weren't they...

Credits
Umpire - Mikey B
Southwest Railway for actually running on time