5-2 W

Report by Justin Edwards

Titans travelled to the Paddington Rec for a late 16.30 pb. The weather set fair and a favourable toss, leading us to play behind the sun in the first half, augured well. 

A nervy first 20 followed, with H&W seeing most of the attacking opportunities, but a steady back line of Toby Munyard, Laurence Taylor and Biffi, together with Peds at sweeper kept things together; a few short corners conceded but all kept out.

For the last 15 we stepped things up, the midfield of Ali Priestly, Wiz, Howie Wilson and Greg Wildisen starting to purr nicely, feeding the forward line of Joergen Jaehnig, Tony James, Nick Wood and Shamit Shukla, with Shamit returning to the Titans fold after a Caribbean sojourn and very much on fire, playing some lovely hockey. 2 goals up but close to the end of the first half we got caught on the counter and they overloaded the right, with the ball crossed tight to the L post into a melee of players, before dribbling in past my feet. After the setback, though, we got straight back to it and another free flowing move brought up the second goal. 1-2 to Titans at the half.

The half time team talk made mention that the next goal would be critical – unfortunately, it wasn’t ours! Some good attacking play from H&W led to a break into the top left of the D; I got the ball clear but adjudged to have put it deliberately out, which is hard to do when you’re prone on the floor but probably the right decision! This short corner they nailed into the bottom right. 2-2

The game was there for the taking for both sides but Titans were the ones to really step up their game and, with 20 to go there was only one team in it. With Peds feeding the midfield and forwards with some beautiful aerials and Greg at L mid and Ali, moving into L back for the second half, combining exceptionally well to negate any threat down our left channel, we scored two in quick succession to put  ourselves firmly in control, before Joergen finished off a final flowing move to send us out of sight, for a final score of 2-5.

A great result and a complete team performance, with everyone making important contributions throughout the game. Titans face Chelmsford at home next weekend and, if we take up where we left off last weekend, we’ll be hard to stop!

Goals – a brace each for Tony James and Woody, with one for Joergen.