Sils 4s lose 3-0 at home to league leaders Bromsgrove 4s in an exciting and hard fought match.

Bromsgrove began strongly and went on the attack right from the start playing some very impressive hockey and they were soon rewarded with an early goal from open play.

After this initial onslaught Sils responded well and began to rise to the challenge set by the league leaders. It wasn’t too long before we were applying pressure in and around their circle. By now it was becoming clear that this was going to be a long, hard and highly competitive game.

Some fifteen minutes into the game and Sils scored an absolutely stunning goal from a set piece inside the 23. Alex Willetts fired the ball from the right hand edge of the D straight into the top left hand corner of the net. The Umpire correctly indicated a goal. Bromsgrove began protesting vehemently that the goal should be disallowed. Unfortunately for us the umpire changed his decision and disallowed the goal. This was a pivotal moment in a finely balanced game that went against us but these things happen so we just had to get on with it. Not long after this Steve Tabb executed a fine lob over the keeper but the ball went just over the bar.

They scored their second from a well worked short corner. The striker slipped the ball to the right and stepped forward into the D past our ‘rushers’. The receiver of the pass held the ball just long enough to draw our defence out of position before pushing it back to the initial striker. He knocked it into the goal through a gap that had opened up. This was a simple but effective routine.

We were two goals down but by no means out of the game. If anything the balance of play had tipped in our favour. They had a very strong midfield but so did we. They also had a great defence with a super goal keeper and so did we (keep up Yogi). If anything we had the better attacking force. Certainly the number of short corners we had point to just how much pressure we applied (someone said it was twelve but I didn’t actually count them). Judging by the amount of shouting that was coming from their players they were definitely rattled. Unfortunately we failed to score from any of the shorts. From one Andy Rush produced a super flick high towards the net only to see it saved on the line by a defender. It was a very good save. Simon Russell blasted another into the bottom left corner only for it to hit the inside of the post and ricochet at a right angle across the face of the goal. How it didn’t go in I will never understand because the balls trajectory completely defied the laws of physics. We had several cracking shots from the other shorts but their defence was well organised. They had set up to channel the ball down the centre to the waiting goal keeper. It worked, he stopped them all.

Back at our end of the pitch their centre forward broke clear into the D with just Yogi to beat. Tony Dwyer, who had been defending really well up to this point, charged back and attempted to make a last ditch tackle. Unfortunately he hit everything except the ball and the umpire awarded a penalty stroke. They scored from the stroke although Yogi was not far off saving it.

One of their players received a green card for a foul on Tony. However before he had time to take his leave Tony unwisely explained where the opponent should go. Another green card came out and Tony was soon following his own advice. Someone shouted that Tony had a short fuse. Well, what other type of fuse could he possibly have?

Even at three nil down we were still playing well and striving to find that elusive goal. Then we were awarded a penalty stroke. With our regular penalty taker off the pitch at the time Simon stepped in to take it. Unfortunately their goalkeeper saved it and the game finished with the score at three goals to nil in Bromsgrove’s favour.

Looking back at the game they did not create many clear cut chances to score. Only one came from open play. The others came from a well worked short and a penalty stroke. At no point in the game did they ever look like scoring anymore.

We, on the otherhand, created far more scoring opportunities than they did. True, they had an excellent defender and a first class goalkeeper and between them they coped with almost everything we threw at them. Particularly memorable was the save on the line from Andy’s flick and the keeper saving Simon’s thumping shots. However, even taking that into account, we could still have scored three goals when you consider Alex’s ‘goal’, a missed penalty and Simon hitting the inside of the post. We were by no means outplayed. We had our chances but it wasn’t to be. They converted their chances, we didn’t convert ours.

I think Yogi only had to make three saves which is testament to how well the defence played. Well done Yogi, Mick, Mike, Craig, Tony and Dave – super stuff.

In the midfield we witnessed a finely balanced contest that ebbed and flowed. There was some great play by both midfields but if anything we were better than them - just. The evidence for that comes from the fact that we had far more attacking play and pressure than they did. Also the ground covered by our midfield was impressive. Super play from Murray, Alex, Simon and Steve. It was also lovely to see the close control and simple constructive passing used by Steve Tabb. Moving the ball like this is very effective. We should take note.

Up front John, Keith and Andy made their defenders work hard. Make no mistake, they had a very accomplished defence and an excellent goalkeeper but they still found John and Andy a real handful to deal with, long may it continue.

It was hugely disappointing to lose this game especially as we came up against a very good side and matched them with equally good hockey. However we should take heart and remain upbeat for the remaining four fixtures because this was a great team performance against very strong opposition. If we continue to play as well as this I have no doubt that we will win the remaining four games.

Many thanks to Tom and Richard for umpiring.

Hóngsè huǒ hóu 红色火猴
Let’s hope the Red Fire Monkey joins us for the next game with lucky number 9 (Andy) coming to the fore.

Man of the match: Steve Tabb