RPHC 5s vs Addiscombe 2s Away

Despite being first onto the pitch and the more eager of the two sides at the line-up, the Priory 5s stuttered to start and get going this week. We were trying the right thing but just not quite pulling it off – still, far better for it to be that way around!

That’s not to say we weren’t without opportunity in the first half. Richard and Monty in particular were rifling balls forward when they could, meaning we found Ben C in space on more than one occasion.

When he could escape the gravity his marker (much thrust was required…) he shot off like a rocket. James C supported him and as one of the few players in the side who can actually keep up with him the two of them applied considerable pressure to the oppo backline. Credit too to Matt S who was charging up the left in support.

A couple of unconverted shorties for the Priory boys – including a solid but far too straight a strike from Mike J - and a few good saves from the Addiscombe keeper (who wasn’t so much in goal, as wearing it, so comprehensively did he seem to fill it) began what ended up feeling like a tale of what could have been.

Meanwhile, and with due credit to our opposition for near perfect execution, it had been 2 short corners to Addiscombe, 2 goal scoring opportunities and 2 goals…. Bugger…

This limited (but sadly well taken) number of chances illustrates a very solid back line performance from Doc Watson on the left, Paul V in the centre and to start off with, Julian on the right (in his debut 5s performance, at least in what we will refer to as his second era). Addiscombe were well structured - senior players commanding and distributing in the centre, linking up with rapid forwards who were making well timed runs – but for those shorts – our defenders were more than equal to it.

Usually known for his calm and almost serene distribution, Pankaj was pressed into a much more defensive midfield role and was doing excellent work breaking down play and preventing Addiscombe from using route one straight down the middle.

A break for Julian saw returning from injury Neil C join the game. Or should I say Clarkey. Or should I say Baldrick. The former Addiscombe legend is known very much by the latter in his former club – as demonstrated by their collective confusion whenever we used an alternative moniker. Neil slotted in perfectly, filling multiple defensive roles for the duration and – as usual, some how finding passes from what looked like impossibly pressured positions.

Howard too rolled on to left mid and despite finding himself in multiple 3 on 1 situations still managed to thread the ball through the narrowest of gaps to get priory attacks underway.

Our subs bench was somewhat depleted by an incident late in first half when the ball popped out of a tackle in the middle of the park. Doctor Watson charged for what first appeared a 50/50 ball, it quickly transpired the odds were with our man though and he got there first… just… there was a coming together and whilst the Olympic skating judges may have penalised him for an illegal manoeuvre, his Triple Salchow with backflip was nothing less than spectacular. It wasn’t, however, without consequence - forcing Doc to sit out the rest of the game. Priory were down to 12 though much kudos to him for continuous encouragement and calling from the sidelines – mend fast and well Doc!

A couple of changes at half time, Julian who had rolled for Mike J in one of the screen roles had, to his chagrin, played far too well there and was subsequently instructed to remain there for the duration.

We were struggling for pace in the defensive line when Addiscombe came through on the break – they had a frankly rude number of tall, fast, teenagers – so it was time to respond with our own, tall, fast (and thankfully nothing but thoroughly polite) teenager James C.
Into Right Back he went early in the second half, and he once again excelled there. With great cooperation and communication with Monty at Right Midfield, the two of them simultaneously manged to create attacking opportunity whilst covering for each other defensively and sweeping round back of the defensive line when Addiscombe broke.

Things were starting to click elsewhere too, we’d tried to do the right things in the first half – cross pitch redistribution, lovely wide balls and the odd aerial – they just weren’t quite coming off. In the second half though they started to find their mark, Monty playing perfectly weighted passes out wide to Ben, Richard locating Matt and Mike J on the left (at least when the latter found sufficient pace to get on the end of them) and Pankaj restored to his place of serenity – picking passes and finding space.

It was one such break that saw Priory Score – midfield link up play involving Pankaj, Richard and Monty, time to light the touch paper on Ben C and stand well back. Off he went and with Mike J stomping on the keeper’s toes Ben’s curving run ended on the right and he found Matt S in space on the left of the D. Matt first timed it, burying the ball in the bottom left 2-1 and Priory firmly back in it early in the second half.
Whilst the play was starting to build again for the Priory boys aided by sharp defend and distribute support from both Jullian and Pankaj, Addiscombe were still finding their way through the Priory press.

This resulted in a succession of short corners and breaks. Enter the fray, debutant 5s keeper Daniel Burns with a sequence of saves from a combination of great positioning and confident, square ball kicking to clear.

He was ably supported by his backs – during one short corner, Dan pulled off two successive super saves as the ball pinged around players in the goal mouth but the third attempt was heading into the bottom left… no panic, Paul was there to calmly dispatch the ball away in a certain-goal saving on the line clearance.

We’ll therefore excuse him his brief sojourn to the sideline when he was green carded for not retreating 5… never have we seen such a face of absolute shock and innocence… whilst standing 2 yards in front of the free hit taker with the ball between his feet…

At the other end, we very, very nearly equalised. An identikit midfield linkup to the first goal, that same Ben C rocket route and Matt S ready to put it way – this time though he couldn’t get enough on it and the ball span out to the left of the target. The 50m run he’d made to get there locked both calves into cramp and the subsequent banshee howl had us stop the game out of concern…. Only for him to say he was fine to play on – at least a brief substitution was necessary out of politeness! Thanks to Howard for another super-sub moment.

We stayed 2-1 down until the final whistle and it’s easy for us to say but a 2-2 draw would have felt like the right score line to end the match.

Special mentions to my favourite champagne moment nominations – the first of which I can only assume was for Richard – “Some terrific fake aerials to confuse the oppo”; and for Rob W “His spectacular gymnastics routine, shame he didn't spot it properly”. We’re nothing if not a sympathetic lot.

The honours for champagne moment this week are split between two. Firstly, our goal-scorer Matt S – right place, right time, perfect execution a great moment in a great performance– well done Matt. Secondly, Daniel – take a bow, outstanding work in goal, fancy footwork and excellent positioning keeping us in the fight, especially in the second half.

Man of the Match once again saw multiple nominees, special mentions to our champagne winners in this category but also Jules, Monty and Ben C for strong nominations. But the honours this week go to James C once again. Great work rate in the first up front and exceptional defensive efforts with more than one bacon saving recovery across the back in the second.

In all, despite my whingeing about the A23, the very fact I been forced to drive into Croydon (sorry Sam) and the loss by one goal, we nonetheless played out what proved to be a very good game of hockey, on a good pitch with top notch umpiring and a thoroughly pleasant oppo… on reflection – we’ll take it.

Another trip up the road to perdition next week for a spot of Purley related entertainment, bring it on!