M5 vs Spalding 3

07 November 2022| Douglas Williamson
M5 vs Spalding 3

Frustration and Rain

After 3 away games on the bounce it was good to be home. Unfortunately, Wilberforce road was not exactly looking a welcome sight. Deep darkness and on again-off again buckets of rain greeted us on arrival and even the risk of cancellation if the faulty floodlights wouldn't kick in any time soon. An omen perhaps?

Last-minute injury and unavailability meant City started the game with a makeshift backline. Hat-trick hero of last week Doug (no I won't stop going on about it) and usual left back Maxim paired in the center of defence and Jonny Cumming and Andy Herriot sharing duty in the center of midfield with usual anchor Richard Turpin injured on the sidelines.

So excuses locked in early, away we go.

The message before the game was to make sure we got off to a good energetic start. Unfortunately, I seemingly failed to grasp this myself and an early chance given away to the Spalding forward found its way into the corner. In my defense, my back was really painful after scoring all those goals last week.

M5s grandees Nick Tapper and Doug 'chuck' Mcleod were doing their best to rouse the 5s into action from the sidelines. I particularly recall such rousing calls as 'Do Something' and 'You suck'. Well, another 5 minutes went by before Spalding went 2-0 up. More confusion at the back and the gap between midfield and defence had opened up in the search for an equalizer.

At this point the cavalry arrived, late arrivals Zeke Durrani and Simon Webb solidified the defence and from that point on Spalding never looked like scoring again. School commitments and elite umpiring had prevented both from starting the game and we had paid the price. The question now was could we claw back the goals and dig out a result? Short answer... no. Long answer...no, but we could of.

Chances of note include another sublime run from Tom Goldsmith ending in a finish agonizingly wide. A driving run all the way from CB from Simon Webb into the D, only to be drilled wide at the near post. Goalline ping-pong was somehow not turned in by Sreeteja and Alex Herriot unlucky to not contact well with a chance near the end of the game

City did get on the score sheet when Webby took on drag-flicking duties at short corner time with usual taker Max on the bench. It flew into the top corner in Webby's head, it squeezed between the keeper's legs in reality

A late break found Douglas 'three goals last week' Williamson through one on one with the keeper, a goal was as certain as Matt Hancock being forced to eat a kangaroo penis on I'm a celebrity this year. However, the full-time whistle blew just as I entered the D. Cruel and unusual Oli, you owe me a goal.

Man of the match went to Alfie Piper in goal for another great performance although Stuart Rye could have got it for skillfully deflecting the ball into a Spalding player's dangly bits. DOD was shared between Sreeteja for missing an open goal (or was that two Strats?) and the Leys for stealing Zeke for the first 20 minutes of the game. Education may be important but hockey is importanter!

Next week we welcome St Ives to Wilby and a chance to get back to winning ways.

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