RPHC M5s vs Camberley & Farnborough 3s

A change of scenery and a much-welcomed change of surface for a home Priory 5s game this week (less the paddling pool in one of the corners of the RA&A astro this week).

In blustery conditions, the 5s lined up wearing orange ribbon arm/shin bands to honour the debonair dutch club legend and founder member Herbie Rijndorp who we sadly lost earlier in the week. Following a few words from the Chairman, a minute’s silence and a round of applause in his memory, the Priory 5s lined up against Camberley & Farnborough 3s.

The usual 3-2-3-2 structure and we were delighted to welcome some returning faces as well as a new one (at least to the 5s this season). Easyjet finally allowing Ethan to play some hockey, Snowy returning from injury and for the first time in around a decade we were delighted to give the Walker brothers a chance to play league hockey together – Jules having joined us on a previous occasion this season, we welcomed Chris for the first time.

Strong availability meant a squad of 15 so we were all extremely grateful to have Doc Watson running the bench for us as he continues to recover from his own knee niggles (an understatement!).

For once Mike J won the toss and for once he and Jacob picked the sensible end to start from – howling winds and the setting sun both coming from behind.

The first 10 minutes were cagey, the midfield weren’t quite clicking yet, Camberley playing high and tending to drag the Priory boys deep and diffuse that part of the press. Paul V and Pippa at Centre and Right Back were containing things well with some excellent tackles and well timed interceptions in front of their men – more often then not Julian at Left Back was then available to distribute out via Mike J or by hammering the ball down the line to Matt S or Max.

The lion’s share of the attacking pressure was coming from Priory though, when we got the ball moving and found Snowy and Max in any sort of space (usually via sharp passing from Pankaj and Richard T) they both looked extremely dangerous. Snowy seemingly able to smash a hockey ball at a goal whether it’s in front, behind or to the side of him and Max with his usual conjurer’s sleight of hand able to dismiss defenders with ease.

Fresh legs saw Kalyan and Chris enter the fray and they looked like they’d been playing together for 10 years. Which would be surprising given that this would have required Kal to be playing senior hockey whilst at primary school... and it was the first game they’d ever played together. Kalyan’s movement of the ball and the timing of his runs was majestic and seemed to synchronise perfectly with the deft rolling passes and through balls from Chris.

Kal had been on for 3 minutes before he scored his first goal; great passing work from Richard, Pankaj and James C, another well timed run from Chris and perfect positioning from Kalyan saw him slotting the ball home from P-Spot range.
10 minutes later and a different combination of contributors following another set of rolling substitutions, this time involving Snowy, Ethan and Monty saw Kalyan score his second in very similar circumstances.

2-0 to Priory at half time. Not a done deal but a sense that we were going to score more and we just needed to ensure it was more than our opposition. A combination of a two goal advantage and a more disciplined structure at the start of second hand pushed Priory into another gear.

This allowed the Priory midfield to play higher, press harder and have the confidence in the well marshalled cover behind them (with yet more sweeping heroics from Paul V to come). Such was the confidence in fact that Mike J found himself perilously close to the Camberley 23 whereupon he slipped the ball out wide to the left (to prevent the inevitable onset of a panic induced nosebleed at the thought of the approaching opposition D) and found Matt S.

Matt then set off like a cannonball towards the opposition right back who was thankfully spared the impact when Matt rifled a beautifully placed sweep towards the left post. That man Kalyan was in situ once again, a simple but very well taken third goal to complete his hat-trick, 3-0 to Priory.

Priory short corner execution had been reasonable up to half time but chaining together the perfect combination of injection, stop and strike wasn’t quite coming off - usually a 2 out of 3 situation (credit to Camberley – they were lightning quick on the run out).
A reminder of Julian’s remarkable ability to absolutely blast a hockey ball from Chris at half time, was perhaps only half necessary, the captain already had him in mind. At the second Prior short corner of the second half, Julian was sent up to stand a few feet from the injector at a very wide angle to the goal.

This has three effects, it generates a very quick injection, usually wrong foots the defensive runners who are looking to the top of the D and results in a near impossible angle to score from. Not a problem for our sniper in residence, Richard rolled the ball to him and stopping for himself, with perhaps sufficient time to enjoy a cocktail before any defensive interference, he smashed the ball straight through any attempt to stop it – bang, bang – once for the backboard and once for the sideboard. 4-0.

That lit the remaining blue touch paper on a sense of open play for the Priory boys and fast, short passing with wide runs became the order of the day. Ethan, Richard, Mike J and Pankaj all playing with grins on their faces in the middle of the pitch.

Out wide, Monty suddenly seemed to be in huge space wherever he was on the pitch. He ran into yet more space where he could find it and dumbfounded oppo defenders with his stick skills when he didn’t. James C (with the very welcome return of the James C supporters club) was in on the act too with his usual brand of Schrodinger’s midfielder, existing both as a full-time attacking and defending midfielder.

He, and others were acting on the advice from Snowy on making better use of the width – advice Snowy himself was now following, conducting marauding runs from out wide along the baseline of the opposition D and firing potentially lethal balls across the p-spot. It was from one such phase of play, a breakdown and attempted counter by Camberley that bagged Snowy his goal.

They attempted for the umpteenth time to play the ball out down their left hand side where they were struggling to find their left mid or left wing. When they did succeed, they generally ended up regretting it – so thoroughly had Pippa stitched up that part of the park on behalf of Priory. As ever, he did make some great tackles but for the most part he didn’t need to. Standing a few feet off the shoulder of his opponents he timed intercept after intercept after intercept and launched numerous counters.

Remarkable that the author of this match report can recall these events so clearly in spite of his considerable merriment at the Christmas social… he was so merry at one point he asked Pip if he’d played earlier in the day… ahem, sorry Pip.

It was nonetheless his excellent play that saw him (remarkably nosebleed free) via a link up with Monty in the top right hand edge of the opposition D striking a sweet shot at goal, Snowy was there to make sure of it - 5-0 and a much deserved entry on the scoresheet for the Snowman.

Jacob had been having a quiet day at the office of Goalkeeper though we did at least provide him with something to do with our “once-a-game (please) offer the ball to the oppo centre forward from a 16 yard hit gambit”. Sharp work from Jacob and excellent rapid recovery from the back line saved any blushes.

The final goal scoring honours ensured minimal sibling rivalry – we couldn’t really have Left Back Jules Walker on the scoresheet with striker Chris Walker absent. Pressure from Max in the centre of the pitch who weathered tackle after tackle (and on occasion stick tackle after stick tackle), with apparent ease created the space for a classic Chris Walker jinking run. Cool as a cucumber under pressure, with a little lift here and there over defensive sticks he rounded out the 6-0 victory.

Fines noted for Mr Johnson (couldn’t find his stick at the end of the match despite it being upright against the fence on the halfway line); Mr Johnson again (merriment related temporary memory loss regarding the presence or otherwise of Mr Funnell at his match); Mr Taylor (Causing extreme confusion on the pitch in the last 5 with unsanctioned substitutions); Mr Lal & Mr Quantick (extensive and unwarranted ethical dialogue regarding eggs and veganism); Mr Lal, Mr Quantick & Dr Watson (identity confusion and unwarranted amusement thereafter); Mr C Walker (failing to score before his brother); Mr J Walker (scoring before his brother).

With special mentions for Jules and Richard T on the Man of the Match votes, it was nonetheless the most emphatic majority we’ve had so far this season. No surprise there, a 45-minute hat trick and a big grin to go with it - take a bow Kalyan Patel.

Champagne moment was a touch more split – special mentions here to Matt S for a superb assist, Richard T for a succession of assists and some super aerials and Kalyan for his super finishing but it was that short corner magic that took the crown – splendid work Jules Walker.

An emphatic win to close out the first half of the season, a massive thank you to all of you that have played, supported, umpired and helped us out however directly and indirectly - rest well, recover and have the merriest of Christmases, holidays and escapes!