Lining up against Oxford Brookes we knew we would have a hard 70 minutes in front of us, given that they were all between the ages of 22-18 and well, Staines lined up with a few more experienced faces.
Said experience allowed us to be the much better team in the first half, employing an effective press cutting off most of their balls from the back, creating several chances in the process, whilst giving up little ground at the back, although they did create one chance of note that required a Goal-Line clearance from Bob Cooke. At the end of the first half a quick counter attack including some slick passing between myself, Em Sukphandee and Adam Hart, led to me having a shot from the top of the D that the keeper deflected straight to Luke Hart to bury home to send Staines into the break 1-0 up.
Knowing that all good university teams come out a much better team in the second half we were put on the back foot after immediately, keeping a several chances out, however they were eventually rewarded with a nicely worked goal soon after. After that the game evened out and got a bit feistier as both teams went searching for the points, both teams had chances. Things reached a boil when one of there team members decided to try and run through Em, who reacted, which led to Em being given a green for the resulting fisticuffs. Both teams would continue to create chances but not take them and the game would end at 1-1 a fair reflection of the game.
Although everyone had a great game, mentions go to Tart for having a great game as a sweeper and to James Yates for some great saves. They also described us as the ‘nicest team in the league’ so we have that going for us
MoM: went to Luke Hart for some brilliant hockey and goal to boot
DoD: went to Em for fighting with university studuents and getting a green.