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WHC Men’s 3s vs H&W 3s (Home)
Saturday 30 January, Lost 1-2
So back to fortress KCS for the second home game of the post Xmas half of the season and with a big crowd down to watch the late push back expectation was riding high. Having picked up a point at Reading at the last home game and following a disappointing loss away to Southgate the week before, there was no need for rallying words. We also had Ben, fresh from his win over Spencer, to impress.
A good focused warm up, stern words from the skipper, the usual battle cry and we were off. We had a great start, playing the ball around with ease and poise, stretching the H&W team and it wasn’t long until the pressure told and we won a short corner. Given almost all of our goals have come from these over the season, it was little surprise we scored. Morgs hit the ball hard, it came straight back to him and he volleyed it into the bottom right – 1-0 and the match was on.
The problem about taking a lead is that you have to defend it. Unfortunately we started retreating into our normal frenetic game and lost our poise. Too many passes went astray, too many passes weren’t controlled. We battled hard and dug in, a real team effort and managed to make half time still 1 goal up. It wasn’t pretty but the team worked hard, something which even the crowd on the side line appreciated.
Words from Dobbo, Ben and Floody at half time talked tactics, but these didn’t stay in the players minds as we went straight back to giving up possession and digging our trench. To be fair, they did have a number of skilful players who ran the game in the middle of the park. H&W looked good working around the park and whilst we might have given the ball up easily, we fought like terriers.
It was about this point that the opposition’s main support, a yapping dog started to influence play. I am not sure how these mind games work, but we crumbled to an almost inevitable open play goal to the accompaniment of this hound’s excited squeals. Shortly afterwards, the owner of the hound opted to get into a hand bag throwing session with Twinnie and then Fludy, the latter of whom felt the need to jump to Twinnie’s defence. Kyle, disappointingly, failed to make it over the sixty yards to the confrontation in time for argy bargy. A few shoves later and Fludy joined the hound and his keeper on the sideline for a well deserved break.
It was in this last five minutes with 10 men a piece that we lost our way. Following a scrappy cross the H&W centre forward managed to push a bobbling ball around / over Morgs’ flailing stick. Not a great goal, but enough to earn our oppo three points. That’s twice in 8 days we’ve lost in the last five, something that needs to change.
Great work from the lads in terms of effort, which reflects our team spirit but we do need to work on keeping the ball and slowing the tempo a little.
Man of the match Morgs, for his goal and solid defence. Dick of the Day went to his double act Fludy, for his hand bags. Fludy clearly needs some practice with finishing his ale after receiving a thrashing in the big race of the day in the clubhouse. Good party to round of the day.
Finally, someone does need to have a word with KCS about the placement of the lights on the sand based pitch. It can prove hazardous if you are wandering along the side of the pitch keeping up with ladies match.
Next match East Grinstead, a must win. Bring it on.
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