Match Report
Match Report - 10 Sep 2009, Royston Hockey Club Mens 3rd XI drew with Cambridge South 3rd / 4th XI
Royston opened their pre-season campaign with a scratch team made up of 3rd & 4th team players (plus the occasional 5th), taking on a similarly compiled side from the Cambridge South club.
Despite very evident ring rust and some unfamiliarity between players, Royston opened the match well on top (maybe Cambridge were even rustier!). The visitors were pinned back in their half for most of the opening fifteen minutes, though their one breakout did find a centre-forward twenty yards behind the Royston defence; goalie Nick Peer advanced to meet him and delayed him sufficiently for the rapidly retreating backline to engage and dispossess.
The sustained pressure eventually told when newly appointed 4th team skipper James Arnold, who was also in charge of this combined effort, lead by example by intercepting a defensive clearance and making straight for the circle. James drew the last man and slipped the ball to Paul Bloomfield, who drove the ball past the ‘keeper into the far bottom corner. Unfortunately this was the only goal the early pressure produced, and Cambridge came more into the game. One deflected cross required a sharp kick save from Nick to maintain the lead into the break.
The second half opened with the visitors now in the ascendancy, as they pushed numbers through to overload the home defence. An equaliser came when a midfielder broke unopposed into the circle. His initial shot was well saved by Nick, but with his defence still AWOL the centre-forward was first to the loose ball and rapped it home. Extra defensive grit and determination following this goal meant it was the last clear cut chance the visitors forced, epitomised by Will, showing that the Shelford Rugby Club top he had shown up in was no joke, by utilising an ingrained tackling style when defending a short corner. For some reason the Umpire took exception to this and awarded a second short. 10 out of 10 for effort though.
Having just about weathered the Cambridge storm, Royston looked the team most likely to score the winner for the rest of the match. The closest thing came when a good tackle followed by an early, perceptive pass from Rick Wilson sprung Bloomers clean through. Bloomers rounded the ‘keeper, but with the byline rapidly approaching he was forced to attempt to finish on the stretch and on the reverse stick. Given the situation, getting too much purchase on the ball, thus putting it across the face and wide, didn’t seem a physical possibility. So Paul can consider himself extremely unlucky…
By the end a decent performance, and certainly a useful run-out, even if we really should have killed the game off as a contest in the opening twenty minutes. Also very encouraging debuts from Nick P, Rick, Will and Alex Parker. Thanks to Neil and Toss for umpiring.
Royston Hockey Club Mens 3rd XI 1 - 1 Cambridge South 3rd / 4th XI