Result : LOSS 0-3 vs Bishops Stortford
Match Report : Nigel Spencer-Knott
That this was going to be quite a challenge was an immediate pre match thought; Bishop’s Stortford 6th are top of our league by a good margin. It soon became clear why. Their youth, speed and combinations showed how comfortable they are playing together as a team. On the other hand we had the bonus of Alastair Whatley playing up front and despite his having played earlier his collecting, chasing, interventions and distraction to the opposition in the middle and in their end of the pitch supplied Tankards with a considerable morale boosting energy. As a result Oliver Yaoz and Oliver Heaviside were able to play a good supporting role and help their hockey development. This was Oliver H’s first adult game and was a good introduction for which he can be proud.
This was “BTH” Rob Ray’s first game for Tankards too, he did well although his adult son watching was concerned that he managed to fall over quite a bit, fitness levels and match practice will remedy that. He made excellent stops and some good passes. Tony Mastroddi decided early on to use the aerial route for his passing from the back to the very front; this was an obvious solution to our concerns with their youthful midfield and forward line who would otherwise pick up any mishit ball.
In the first half we managed to keep the score down to one nil when they converted their pressure in our D. Ian Grammar did very well to pick up those balls which had not been controlled by Tankards or by the opposition and from right back he also covered as sweeper, one of his best games. In the second half we continued to do quite well until shots at goal, though stopped by Nigel Dixon in the goal mouth remained too near their attackers and were pushed in. Losing 3 – 0 to Bishop’s Stortford was not as bad as it sounds.