Mens 1 vs Waltham Forest 1

Regular 1s readers - did you miss me? No? You're lying.

This morning I was uber excited, when I joined this beautiful hockey club in 2021 I saw two lovely shirts on the website, home(white) and blue(away). I duly went and purchased both and this weekend - away at Waltham Forest was my first opportunity to wear the blue one in anger. I walked proudly into the changing room in my so far unworn shirt, Singer had his on, as did Dave... but then devastation! I watched in exasperation as "the club blue kit" was handed out to everyone and it's a completely different shirt, some horrible sky blue affair as opposed to the smart navy polos Dave, Singer and I were rocking. Unfortunately the club stalwarts, aka "the furniture", never got around to buying the away kit. Absolutely devastated at this I needed something to cheer me up - some new balls had been acquired, didn't quite do it for me but Durbs was ecstatic "it's lovely to have a nice and full ball-sack", if you say so bud.

In the absence of Captain Kimberley, Mr Bunbury read out the "instructions and formation" text message he had apparently received this morning - no one else got this message from the Captain so when I was announced at left back I was a bit sceptical. Tom being announced as centre back was usual, short corner stopper happens occasionally, p-flick taker? (ok i made that one up. the message did mention the press though so actually it probably came from team management).

I guess you may want to read about what happened on the pitch? Well it didn't start particularly well, a too easy through ball found their high player by the p-spot with a deflection that "christmas-spiced" Andy in goal. (I got that right yeah? Christmas is a nutmeggy time of year isn't it?). Oh baubles.

Waltham Forest 1 - 0 Harpenden

Having coughed up a turkey of a goal we didn't want to repeat the offence, but a pudding of a pass was intercepted by their right winger who again found a high player. A flicked shot was excellently saved by Durbs on the line, making up for the pudding!

Finally we started waking up, passing the ball accurately and having attacking threats. We were getting in their D a plenty, and we earned more short corners than brussel sprouts leftover on boxing day. Unfortunately none of these sprouts were cooked in bacon grease and glazed with honey as we couldn't find the backboard, sidenetting or even beat their "rapid" number 1 runner half the time.

Things were looking up though, we clearly had the ability to attack and threaten and were looking for the finishing edge. Our breakthrough finally came via a well worked attack that saw Henry Amos sliding in at the back post to level the score and earn £10 off the price of the stick he bought of Dave.

WF 1 - 1 Harps

In the dying seconds of the first half we were pinned back in our 23, the ball found its way to me, at left back, still. Some people can aerial 20yards, some can do so a bit further, some can even do it under pressure. But have any of you seen a 35yard, reverse stick aerial out of a spot more boxed than Dynamo has been this week in his buried alive stunt? I severely doubt it. The team was impressed, the umpire was full of admiration and the oppo were shocked. 

The half time team talk was devoted to discussing the impressive flight of my superb REVERSE STICK AERIAL. We also debated the effectiveness of our press, some thought the forwards were not working hard enough but the oppo had resorted to their own, less amazing, aerials in order to get the ball out of their 25. Ah the press, the riddle wrapped (with christmas paper) in a mystery inside an enigma.

The second got under way, and Waltham has a few shorties of their own. The first Reesy took on the knee, the second saw a smartly struck shot ricochet into the net.

WF 2 - 1 Harps

We were not playing badly, we were still winning shorties. I mused maybe we should try shooting as opposed to winning a shorty? I counted this was our 9th shorty without success. The injection was fine, a mis-trap saw the ball roll out the 23, we worked it to the by-line to then find Danny at the left post who flicked the ball into the roof of the net.

WF 2 - 2 Harps

We were working hard, Dave was his usual strong-on-the-ball self, Singer was playing everywhere due to injuries, Skills and Todd were covering lots of ground, Jason showed some good touches and Russell was on the pitch.

We'd worked hard to get back on even terms, arguably had the most chances in the game so far with much of Waltham's attacks down to a stretching the pitch and a long ball approach. One such long ball may have been kicked on by the striker, and our scrambling defence couldn't prevent the misfortune being compounded.

WF 3 - 2 Harps

Hard lines, an even game, or possibly an uneven game as we had been on top for much of the first half and we were struggling to tread water. Waltham earned a short corner, slipped it short, fired a shot goalward and, well i tried my best, but let's say i opened my (own)goal account for the season.

Full Time: Waltham Forest 4 - 2 Harpenden

A tough loss to take when we were not outplayed. When you ship four goals it's hard to win, but we also had the opportunity to score far more than the two we registered.

Sidenotes

a. Durbs looks after the ball with such devotion he even resorted to using his noggin to prevent a defender's stick from accessing the ball. Great commitment lad.