Young Guns help 3's to First Win of 2017

With some still topping up their tan around various destinations of Europe the new hockey season returned with a friendly against Sheffield University Bankers.
Missing players meant an opportunity for some of the clubs younger players with eight of the match day squad still in their teens, and five wishing they were. There were debuts for ‘Magic Mike’ Michael Daniels, ‘Mad Max’ Robinson and Thomas ‘We’re working on your nickname’ Walker as well as the ‘cutie’ that is Ben ‘Corporal’ Jones. Boss Hogg, Big Foot, Hutch, Gandalf, Iceberg, Chuckle#2, Tomahawk Bandit, Ponch, Homer and Harry making up the rest of the squad.

With Chap’s emphasis on simple play the first five minutes belonged to Bankers as the Chap players got to know each other. However, with Hutch and Boss Hogg providing encouragement the team grew in confidence, relaxed and started to play some good hockey. An early break by Tomahawk Bandit and Iceburg giving an early indication of the team’s pace advantage over their opponents.
With Hutch protecting the defence, Chuckle#2, Corporal Jones and Harry, rotating in the two central midfield roles, began to take control of the central areas. Mad Max wide on the left was seeing a lot of ball and was able to regularly release either Tomahawk Bandit or Iceburg down the channels and wing. Together, and rotating with Ponch, the two forwards were regularly breaking the Bankers backline down with their pace and gained several short corners. Tomahawk Bandit initially took responsibility and fetched two good saves from the Bankers keeper. Chuckle#2 and Ponch were also involved and though goals were not directly scored from these the forward momentum was to see two predator goals scored, both similar in nature. With Thomas Walker now appreciating and utilising wider areas on the right, the first involved a probing move at the edge of the Bankers D before a ball into the D was deflected into the path of Iceburg who smartly finished into the net from about 5 yards. The second once again saw an amount of pressure around the Bankers D before the ball was played in from a wide area with Harry running onto the ball and deflecting it into the net from a couple of yards out.
The team finishing the half deservedly leading 2-0.

Bankers exerted a little more pressure in the second half. Magic Mike and Homer, sharing the right back role, had bottled up that area of the pitch regularly neutralising the Bankers winger. Gandalf had been called upon to make a number of saves from central areas, but had largely looked secure. With the defense holding firm the danger appeared to be overconfidence. And this was to lead to a Bankers reply. A lazy pass in midfield allowed Bankers to break down the left channel into the D. With a forward advancing along the backline of the D the entire defense backed off allowing the forward to find an easy pass to his teammate who gave Gandalf no chance with his tap in from 2 yards.
Chap replied quickly and restored their two-goal advantage. With Hutch quickly self-passing a free hit it was the turn of Bankers to back off. Approaching the D, he played in Iceburg who needed no second invitation to bag his second of the game with a crisp finish.
As the second half wore on, early season legs began to tell. Ponch and Tomahawk Bandit still looked dangerous on the break but the midfield and defense were hanging on a little at the back. Bankers pressure was to gain a short corner which their striker struck sweetly into the net to make it 3-2, though Gandalf was disappointed at being nut-megged.

And that was how the game finished. An excellent display by the young team and a deserved win. Let’s hope the season continues in a similar vein.