COWHC Men's 2s vs Surbiton Men's 5s - 11th March 2017

Scorers: Chris Morling, Jay Patel x2
POM: Terry Eeles for another heroic afternoon between the posts
DOD: Me, for my dodgy dugout Sat Nav.
A change of home venue meant that this week’s game had to played at 10:30 at PWs (what a ridiculous time for adult sport!). Our last game here ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw and after I walked to the wrong side of the pitch looking for the dugout, it looked that today could be a similarly bad day.
After a decent warm up and Bash revealing his lust for Oli Morris’s eyelashes, the game got underway in a blowy and chilly PWs. Margy managed to double our pitch side support after waking up alongside his American Tinder date who refused to leave. Not sure what she made of the match but she was treated to an amazing display of Hockey.
Surbiton gave us a great game away from home so we expected a stern test and a quick start. That is exactly what we got as they started fast and put us under pressure from the first whistle. The first of many penalty corners was won inside the first 5 minutes. A mid-season Chatwal expedition to Barbados meant that our usual D-Unit was somewhat rejigged. Dawesy stepped in to cover for Raj. The first half continued in this way, good pressure from Surbiton in our half leading to a succession of penalty corners. Time and time again, D-Unit held firm with numerous saves from Terry and clearing challenges from Oli Morris and Pete Bashford: deputising for Raj who was sipping on Pina Coladas.
The Surbiton pressure paid off as they won a succession of short corners before capitalising on a Croydon appeal in the D. We stopped, appealed, the Surbiton umpire played advantage and in a flash it was 1-0! It would be difficult to begrudge Surbiton their lead but the Croydon response was immense. We kept the ball well for the remaining 10 minutes and after some great forward play, we won a rare short corner. Bash’s drag was almost perfect, striking the inside of the post and then a Surbiton body. Dawesy celebrated thinking the ball went in the net but a subsequent corner was awarded which was dealt with well by the Surbiton players.
At half time, Cocksy spoke of the need to be first to the ball. With too many 50-50s being lost, the skipper rallied the troops and Will Chan spoke of the importance of composure. The second half started at the same pace as the first - only this time, it was COWHC who were on the front foot. Watching from the back, we played some of our best hockey of the season in the second half. We drew level after a close range finish from Chris Morling - capitalising on a loose ball in the D. The Surbiton ship was now rocking. From the push back we continued to press and marked magnificently. For once, we made our pressure count and after a succession of short corners, we got ourselves in front after a failed M11 was finished off from close range from Jay. 2-1 and we were in dreamland. I reminded everyone of the need to keep things tight and continue the press. Then the unthinkable happened… after absorbing pressure in the left corner, the ball broke to Jay around the D. He deftly took it past the first man and then with one of the most audacious finishes of the season, guided the ball into the roof of the net. In the clubhouse, it was suggested that this was a misplaced pass for Kai, but no doubt JP17 will take credit for a classy finish. Surbiton pressed us for the remainder of the match and came close on more than one occasion. But for Terry’s heroics, the result could have been much closer.
Final result, COWHC 3 - 1 Surbiton. After Leatherhead’s 7-1 pumping by OCs, the result moves us into 4th and very much in the promotion race.