Newsletter

Ladies	Home to Tunbridge Wells 2
1^st XI	Away to Worthing	Lost 4-0
2^nd XI	MB Trophy
3^rd XI	Home to Sevenoaks Acorns	Lost 2-1
4^th XI	Home to HSBC	Lost 2-0
5^th XI	Home to Old Williamsonians
Senators	Home to Burnt Ash

Ladies	Home to Folkestone	St Lawrence	12.00
1^st XI	Away to Sevenoaks		15.00
2^nd XI	MB Trophy
3^rd XI	Home to Holcome 3A
4^th XI	Home to Wellcome	Jackey Bakers	12.00
5^th XI	Away to Wellcome
Senators

Ladies	Home to Canterbury	St Lawrence	13.30
1^st XI	Home to Folkestone	St Lawrence	12.00
2^nd XI	Away to Folkestone
3^rd XI	Home to Folkestone	St Lawrence	15.00
4^th XI	Away to Folkestone
5^th XI	Home to Folkestone	Jackey Bakers	13.30
Senators	Home to Blackheath	Jackey Bakers	15.00

Isn’t playing against Sussex opposition great. Team meets at 9.30, push back 13.10, arrive home 19.30. Ok, arrival home was a, ahem, little delayed by a brief visit to The Gate for a mouth watering Cheesey Gate Burger and a bottle of Bud, but its still a long, long day.

Despite the moans of the loss of a whole Saturday, the game itself has to go down as one of the most competitive and most enjoyable that I have played in for a number of years, despite the stakes of the game; winning the league for Worthing and avoiding relegation for us.

A fast and furious opening saw the game played from end to end, both teams displaying slick passing, great movement off the ball, and hard tackling. The status quo was maintained until, rather fortuitously, the home team scored when Andy Dunn put a knee high cross into the net. For the remainder of the half Ville were all over Worthing, and were unlucky not to draw level when Don Elmore had a penalty stroke magnificently saved by their goalkeeper. As usual, during this period of ascendancy, Worthing scored again on a breakaway. 2-0 at half time.

The second half was very much a repeat of the first, with the game played at the same pace and competitiveness, and with Ville maintaining possession and pressure for long periods without success. As the half progressed, Worthing’s fitness began to show, and two further breakaway goals saw them win 4-0, a scoreline that flatters like a Neasden lady of the night during happy hour.

Despite the scoreline Ville played with passion, heart and commitment. Play like this on Saturday against Sevenoaks in our last league game of the season will see us finishing mid table.

This was the 5^th time we have played BBHC this season and things didn’t start well with them only bringing 11 players and no umpire. After some heated discussion where Algy was heard to say “stuff that I’m not umpiring for them” we started the game.

Its amazing how much time you have when the opposition only has 10 players. Jez was keen to point out how much slower the game was to the first team and he soon was charging about like a three year old on blue smarties.

We had loads of pressure and soon enough James Foot slotted the ball away after a mazy run (all that time I suppose). We then kept the pressure up and Max then scored the second. We then scored again to complete a 3 – 0 win.

It was good to see Algy back on the pitch for at least 3 minutes and also encouraging to see the return of Dave Hooper after a long time away from the game.

With one more cup game to go we cannot get to the final but at least we will be able to hang up our sticks after this week and return to the Neasdon retirement home for gentlemen. Where we get our bags changed, our pots emptied, our food cut up, and a nice warm cream spread on out bed sores.

Well, it’s Thursday night and I’ve suddenly remembered to write the match report. I think I am starting to wind down towards the end of the season and there are still 3 league games to go… At least I’ve started enjoying hockey again since Christmas! I have even returned to form (sort of, even if I say so myself… and I’ve dived more in the last 4 matches than the rest of the season combined.)

Anyway… this was a thoroughly enjoyable game and my first (and last) defeat as captain against Sevenoaks. We conceded a goal mid-way through the first half – a superb flick into the top left corner, but we didn’t play particularly well, again. The last 10 minutes of the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half saw us finally getting some sort of teamwork together and a superb move down the right saw DANNY LEWIE cross the ball to MARK ‘I’ve remembered how to score again!’ KEENAGH to slot home from the top of the D.

We had a number of chances to win it but sloppily conceded a short corner and though I managed a first save, the ball bounced at an angle to an unmarked Sevenoaks attacker who gave them back the lead.

When it comes down to it we are not making the most of the possession we have week in, week out. We only shot at goal 40% of the time spent in the opposition D… Too often we seem to be looking for the pass or taking an extra defender on when a shot at goal would be the easiest option.

2 more league games as captain (then Gary in charge for the last league match)… For once 5 years has really felt like 5 years!

Team: Spanky ‘Look, I dived!’ Morgan, Chris ‘the girls love him’ Havenden, Rob ‘I want a goal’ Macer, Rob ‘Put me back up front’ Garno, Adam ‘Almost fit once more’ Strickett, Phil ‘No, not the rolling sub’ Joy, Greg ‘On fire today’ Howard, Gary ‘Having a ‘mare’ Ingoldsby, Andy ‘I forgot how tiring 3s was’ Kingston, Danny ‘Where? The right? Where’s that then?’ Lewington, Michael ‘Gills are away so I can play’ Knell, Mark ‘I remember now!’ Keenagh plus support from David ‘Give me a mention cos I am great!’ Cain.

Quote of the week… “She’s so slow she makes me look fast” Steve Burton. “What, has she got a shell on her back” Simon Ballard in reply.