Mens 1 vs Broxbourne 1

On Sunday HHC were able to put out a fantastically strong three teams for the away Under 8s tournament at Blueharts. Coach James, Assistant Coach Rachel, and Assistant to the Assistant Coach Matt (yes Mum I’ve been promoted since last year!) took charge of a team each.

Our U8s have increased in hockey-knowledge greatly this year. Pre-match team talks have evolved from how to hold the stick correctly to which direction we’re scoring in, and now we’re discussing positions as well as the formation of a defensive shield.

Team James featured Harry with multi coloured hair, Iyla bossing the midfield, Hector starring for one game only plus Alice and Ella with nice skills upfront.

Team Rachel saw goals from Charlotte and Marcela with great assists from Leo and Amelia as an ever present defender.

Team Matt saw Elizabeth with a very sharp short ranged shot earning a number of goals. Maya-Sophia, Esme and Erin in the midfield and Tom showing skills that means he’s surely destined to be an outfield player.

Regular readers might be wondering about how the Men’s 1s fared this week, it’s a lot more boring and serious than the U8s and a lot less snacks and sweets. One thing the U8s and the 1s have in common is we’re all big fans of the new series of Gladiators.

The 1s this week faced top of the league Broxbourne. We were soundly beaten 8-2 in the first half of the season as Broxbourne showed off an impressive arsenal comprised of pace, skills and a devastating drag flick.

Our own “Skills” (Mark Skilbeck) was suffering this week from gout - he’s really fitted into that O40s side quite well! It might not be gout, but I think that’s the sort of injury we should have, very Henry VIII-esque. Still he braces the cold and was there to cheer us on along with HHC Men’s 1s number one fan Alan.

Surprisingly I started on the pitch today, something I’m not used to and I spent most of the first 15minutes chasing shadows as unfortunately Broxbourne’s forwards hadn’t slowed down in the last four months. Andy King made a fine save from one shorty, logging effectively to deflect the ball over the par. He saved another shorty but the clearance off his pad unfortunately found a Brox forward who slotted home.

Harps 1 - 0 Brox

The defensive four had their work cut out and we battled hard. Led emphatically by our usual pair of centre backs Nick Kimberly and Tom Bunbury. Durbs came in at right back and we could now unleash Danny in the forward line. 

The last twenty minutes of the first period we should be very proud of, pass and move hockey to rival the great Barcelona tiki taka style. The forward line were making great leads, Mark Hoefield especially was putting a shift in. And the midfielders were on top, David Guy his usual combative self, Singer, Chouksey and Walker demonstrating their ‘experience’.

We were unfortunate not to score, chances went begging at short corners as well as opportunities in open play. Brox should have counted themselves lucky to be ahead at half time.

HT Harps 0 - 1 Brox

We aimed to kick on in the second half, but Brox weren’t about to lie down and let us back in the game. Their pace and skills were back on show and we couldn’t keep all the attacks at bay. Brox scored an ok goal.

Harps 0 - 2 Brox

They scored another ok goal.

Harps 0 - 3 Brox

We got some possession back, Hoefield had a tomahawk miss the top corner by less than a foot. Russell Timms was on the pitch. Ok I still find that line funny but Russ was being nice and useful up front. Nick McLean was on the pitch.

Full Time Harps 0 - 3 Brox

We gave the team who are running away with this league a real test at times.

MoM: Mark Hoefield had the bit between his teeth today. Ok “b-team” didn’t score but the rest of his game was class.

Champagne Moment: there was one stretch of passing involving all defenders (except me), slickly through the midfield, into the D for a goal scoring chance. I was impressed and relieved I wasn’t involved to mess it up.

DoDs Walker and Chouksey in a chuckle brothers “to me”… “to you” moment both left the ball for each other.