COWHC Mens 2s vs. Old Cranleighans Mens 3s - 30 Jan 2015

Fresh off a 7-0 hammering of Old Kingstonians last week the in-form 2s travelled to 1st placed OCs. With the CROWS starting the game in 3rd place behind Kenley with a game in hand, skipper Keith Cocks selected a strong side for this one. Even the 8am meet time couldn't curb the enthusiasm. The lads were well up for it!

The match got off to a frenetic start with OCs setting a pace that CROWS managed to match well in the opening 10 minutes. In truth, the team survived a few scares in this period with GK Terry happy to see a few glanced shots go just wide of his posts.

CROWS' resilience and organisation paid off when the high press forced a misplaced pass that was picked off by Bash who was returning after missing last week. He beat 2 lunging defenders before unleashing a powerful shot goal wards that proved too hot to handle for the OCs GK who could only manage to party out to the onrushing Kai Patel who made no mistake lifting the rebound over the diving GK and high into the net.

The scoreline seemed to shock OCs who fell behind for what must be the first time this season. The pressure that was mounted before half time was relentless with CROWS surviving a wave of short corners - with no small thanks to the excellent Terry in goal. Less honourable thanks should go to John Woj who saw green for dissent after a peach of a tackle only to undo his bad boy image with an angelic apology towards the umpire. This action inevitably saw him awarded DOD in the OCs clubhouse after the game.

At half time, the score was 1-0. Cocksy's half time team talk was measured and simple calling for patience and discipline. The second half picked up where the first left off with wave after wave of OCs attack supported by some fortuitous Penalty Corners that continued to be defended brilliantly by the PC defence. A change of tactic saw OCs adopt an incredibly high press that limited the Croydon attack to a few half chances as the game reached a breathtaking conclusion. With 15 minutes left to go, the Croydon resistance was finally broken with a deft touch in the D by the OCs forward tying the game at 1-1.

In the final segment of the game Raj saw yellow for a blatant trip in the 25 before Steve, returning from injury almost set up an unlikely winner for Croydon right at the death.

The match ended 1-1 with Croydon definitely the happier of the two sides after results went their way this weekend. In truth this was not a pretty game of hockey but the skipper praised the grit and determination of the squad after the game giving particular praise to the defence who did a sterling job of keeping them out while the forwards were starved of chances at the other end.

Finally a massive congratulations to Terry Eeles for his excellent keeping skills and PC organisation throughout the game who ended up a well deserved POM for the day.

Squad: Terry, Raj, Steve, Hutch, Woj, Cocksy, Steelers, Ollie, Ash, Bash, Kai, Jay, NickyRao