Oxygen please as the Mighty 4s reach dizzy heights – but will it last?

Our previous encounter had resulted in a very hard fought two-all draw. As well as having some skilful players they also had two or three younger players who were very quick indeed and their sheer pace had proved difficult to deal with. There was every reason to expect that this return fixture would also be a tough match. With Sils second in the table and Edgbaston close behind in fourth it was obvious that both sides would be going all out to try and secure the three points.

Slight tension arose before the game when it became obvious that a few of our players were having difficulty finding the pitch. Funny how they never seem to have any difficulty in finding the bar! A few quick calls via modern technology and the problems were resolved and all our players arrived in time for the start of the match. Phew!

As in previous games we resolved to be right on the ball at the first whistle and this is exactly what we did. Simon Russell and Alex Willetts took immediate control of the centre and began feeding the ball out to John Harrison on the right and Andy Rush through the centre. In the first ten minutes we had set up a number of penetrating attacks. It looked promising.

However Edgbaston began to settle and soon started to mount a few counter attacks. Though we managed to contain them the potential for them to score was obvious. This game was definitely not going to be a goal-less draw. Both sides were playing good hockey and working hard. We needed to take advantage of the slight edge we had over Edge. Ten minutes into the game and Simon Russell made an excellent pass down the left flank to Alex Willetts. Alex went round three defenders before making an inch perfect pass to Keith Willetts who turned towards the goal and lifted the ball high between the inside post and the goalkeeper. Nepotism aside this really was a well taken goal. This must have given the opposition some food for thought. It was certainly the breakthrough we needed.

They in turn had a few penalty corners and though we dealt with them very effectively it was obvious that their main striker had a good technique. He was a real threat and it was imperative that we try to avoid giving away shorts. This is, of course, much easier said than done.

Simon and Alex continued to have the better of the centre ground and between them they kept John and Andy well supplied with good balls. Down the left both Tony Dwyer and Craig Ffitch found the confidence to press high in support of our forward play and this added real depth and strength to our attacks down the left hand side. Similarly, when attacking along the right flank, Mick Lane pushed up high to support John. It takes confidence and nerve for defenders to do this especially when faced with a strong and fast attacking side like Edge. Continued pressure, good passing and a high percentage of possession eventually led to our second goal. Their keeper made a good save but neither he nor the defender could clear the ball and it rolled across the goal mouth. There was a bit of an untidy scramble for the ball until Andy rushed in and slammed it into the net.

So far so good but there was absolutely no room for complacency. This was a tight game with both sides playing good hockey and working hard.

With about ten minutes of the half remaining they were awarded another penalty corner. The previously mentioned striker received the ball and took it into the D at an angle to the right. (I know - right angle). This opened up a space for him to thunder the ball into the net through the slightest of gaps between Yogi and Craig. This was a very well-timed shot which was virtually unstoppable, it lifted their spirits and put them back in the chase.

Undaunted we continued to play in the same style as before and why not, it had produced two goals. Brandon Munemo made some good forward runs which stretched the Edgbaston defence. With five minutes to go before half-time another great pass (Simon or Alex) set Andy up for a run towards their goal. He went round the first defender with great skill, took the ball across the front of the second and then slammed it into the net leaving the keeper with no chance of making a save. This was an excellent time to score. With just a few minutes remaining Edge pushed everyone forward in an attempt to get one back. Yogi saved a decent shot across goal by deflecting it out with an outstretched boot. It was an important moment to make a good save. Despite exerting tremendous pressure on our defence we survived without conceding. It was a tense time. Reaching half-time leading by three goals to one was just what we needed. Even if we didn’t score again they would still need three goals to win.

As the second half got underway it became apparent that something was different. They had a much stronger presence in central midfield than before. They had made some very astute changes to their formation which included playing a defender just behind their two central midfielders. This would leave them more exposed at the back but they obviously felt it was a risk worth taking in order to score the goals they needed. It turned out to be a very effective strategy because the increased vulnerability at the back was more than compensated for by much stronger control in the centre. They also used their fast players (and they were very quick and fit) to great effect. They were given the role of sprinting back to support the defence when danger threatened and they did this extremely well. They made the whippet look like a stiff lurcher. The game had changed and we needed to adapt.

Now Simon and Alex were playing more like the first line of defence trying to counter the threat coming from Edgbaston’s central midfield. They did this extremely well by impeding Edge’s forward progress and forcing them to play out wide. It was very noticeable just how many balls went out over the side or back lines as Edge tried to force the play forward.

With the central midfielders disrupting Edge’s attacking moves our defence had time to get set in the right positions to deal with the threats that were becoming ever more frequent. When they broke through the centre Dave Higgins was there to knock the ball away. He did this time and time again. When they came round the back on our right they ran into Mick Lane - a brick wall. From our left Craig Ffitch proved equally difficult to pass. Mike Bettridge was as solid as a rock and on the few occasions when they did manage to get through there was Yogi. Despite being unfortified he saved everything that came at him to keep a second half clean sheet. The defence played very well as a unit because they kept their shape, discipline and composure. They were well supported by Tony and Brandon who both tracked back tirelessly and kept the heads of their opponents down. Good play by both.

Our attacks were much less frequent and less well supported as we strived to contain Edge who were playing really good hockey. Despite this we still looked dangerous at times with Andy racing forward at every opportunity. At one point he proved a real handful for three of their defenders. Using his pace and superb close control he wrong footed the first two. He almost beat the third but he just managed to get a touch on the ball as Andy went to drive past him. It was an important touch because without it Andy would have been through with just the goal keeper to beat. It was close. Throughout the second half they threw everything they had at us but did not score.

Such was the intensity of the match that the final whistle took some players by surprise. They were so wrapped up in the game that they didn’t realise that thirty five minutes had elapsed but it was a relief to hear the final whistle.

Both sides played really good hockey in what was a tight, competitive and closely fought game. The final score didn’t reflect just how close this game was.

In a nutshell Sils attacked strongly throughout the first half to score three goals to one and defended resolutely throughout the second half without conceding.

Man of the Match. Andy Rush

Thought for the day - oh dear!
We are a side of mixed ages and ability and that’s no bad thing. It makes playing well as a team all the more rewarding. Good teamwork, mutual support and great camaraderie have made us into a formidable team. This game was a case in point. Our skilful players played really, really well and the rest of us pushed hard and played to the best of our ability. This brought us the winning goals in the first half and got us through a difficult second half unscathed. To use the cliché, this really was a very, very good team performance. Dare I say it even outstanding!

The Mighty 4s are at the top of the table where the hair is thin. Who would have bet on that at the start of the season?

Post Script
All is not quite as it seems though. Second place Bromsgrove 4s are only one point behind with two games in hand and third place Edgbaston 7s are just three points behind with one game in hand. Perhaps it is just a brief history in time. Still it is good to boldly go where no Sils 4s have ever been before!