How the Mighty Have Fallen!

The highlight of this first league game of the season was posing for the pre-match team photo in our splendid new kit. Well done to James for organising the sponsorship.

As expected, Hampton proved to be a very strong and capable side. Packed with skilful youngsters supported by a handful of experienced senior players they were very quick, well structured, calm, composed and their teamwork was very effective. One of their young forwards was outstanding and as well as scoring some cracking goals he also set up others for his team mates. He absolutely screamed one ball into the net from the narrowest of angles on the edge of the D. The sheer pace of it gave Yogi little chance of making a save.

We always knew this league would be tough but with four key players missing this game became a whole lot more challenging. By half time the score was 5-0 with three of their goals coming in the last 10 minutes before the break. A glimmer of hope emerged when Sils scored almost immediately after the restart. Ian Wilson fired the ball into the D directly in front of the goal. Hampton’s sweeper, who had stopped just about everything that had come his way until then, inexplicably failed to stop this one which was coming directly onto his stick. Knowing that it was struck outside the D he may have deliberately let the ball go through expecting it to cross the line for a 16. Who knows but Willetts moved in behind him to get a touch before it crossed the line.

This did little to dent Hampton’s confidence because within just a few minutes they scored two more. Sils doggedly held on and mounted some promising attacks but failed to convert the pressure into goals. Hampton finished with a flurry scoring twice more in the dying minutes of the game to complete a resounding 9-1 victory.

Many thanks to Nobby and Simon for giving up their time to umpire, a task which they both completed extremely well.

The score line suggests a very one-sided game but this was not the case. Sils put in a lot of effort with some players, notably Steve Tabb and Andy Rush playing well throughout the whole game. Indeed, everyone had spells when they played well. Mick Lane pulled off a great stop and clearance off the line, Yogi made some excellent saves to prevent Hampton from achieving double figures and Murray used short accurate passing to good effect. Young Charlie Russell, increasing in confidence as the game progressed, produced some excellent defending in the second half. He remained focussed, showed maturity in his positioning and got the timing of his tackles just right.

If this game is anything to go by we could be in for a tough season but there are many things we can implement quickly as a team and as individuals to improve our performance and steady the ship. Email on the way!

One thing we must do is maintain our great team spirit. This has been an essential ingredient in our recent success but is even more crucial to the cohesion of the side now with the prospect of a challenging season ahead.

Man of the Match: Charlie Russell

Next week we are away at Stratford. We must shakethefear, playwright, string more couplets together and literally stage a comeback if we are to avoid a comedy of errors.