Away win eases worries

Long Buckby who, where, was the response from most of the squad as they headed off to the furthest outpost of the Warwickshire countryside for the latest encounter and most decisive match of the season. Long Buckby had targeted this match as a must win and had pushed the start time back 6 hours at the last minute to ensure that they had their strongest side available.

As expected Buckby lined up with a strong team including their one star player that had caused all the damage in the first encounter as well as a full bench of substitutes to utilise. However, unbeknown to Buckby this was not the same Sils side that they had encounter earlier but one honed together through numerous training drills and now playing well for each other.

The game started in monsoon weather with heavy rain and strong winds throughout. As the game progressed and short corners were traded Sils were finding themselves becoming more nervous as time went on and their play became erratic and pre Christmas style, far from the confident hockey that had been played of late but they stuck to their game and manged to edge ahead as Ruth Dovey converted from a short corner with a further added by Samantha Cooper to take some of the pressure off. But Buckby were not lying down and playing much better hockey than their lowly position led people to believe. The Sils defence was being tested and everyone was called upon to ensure that goal bound shots were swept away promptly although Buckby did manage to pull one back shortly before half time through a rocket of a shot from close in which rifled into the back board before the defence could react.

The half time team talk delivered by Coach Jamie Fleet left the team in no uncertain manner as to the manner of their play and how to resolve it which did see some improvement in the next period although conditions if anything got worse with spectators required to physically hold Joanne Brett’s goal down to stop it blowing off the pitch. As Buckby threw everything they had at the game holes were appearing in the Sils defence Jo Brett had a one to one to resolve with the Buckby star which was dealt with admirably as the defence rallied around to assist. Vision through a goal keepers helmet visor is limited at best and as a Buckby forward broke through the defensive line Jo Brett rushed out to smother just as Becky Bakewell came across her path with the result being that both Becky, the forward and ball were all swept away by Jo smashing through everything in her way and Becky being the latest addition to “feel the force” of goalie smashdown.

As time progressed Samantha Cooper added her second and Sils third to make the game safe for Sils to take all three points in a tough encounter and register back to back victories for the first time this season. Looking a lot like progress is being made.

MoM: Ruth Dovey, for another battling performance and in the thick of the action throughout.

DoD: This time Ruth scoops both awards. Midfield is an area not to venture into for the faint hearted and as tackles go in there is at times a no holds barred culture applied and as Sam Cooper was battling away an incident occurred whereby Ruth decided to clear everything out and ended up smashing Sam’s finger to bits. End result Sam off to hospital at the end to get a massive blood blister lanced and her finger checked out, er thanks Ruth.