Sils slip up at home

So, you're playing in a team whose shape, structure and workrate is head and shoulders above last year, but you're five weeks away from Christmas with an inferior points and goals tally to 2013. What do you do ? And how can you write yet another match report when you've finished second again ? I haven't got a clue, but here goes.

A reaction from many would be to worry, but that's not what M4 are doing. That's because we are playing better hockey than last year, are going through a season of transformation with a new goalkeeper, and changes in defence and midfield. The performances are improving, and we know that the results will follow.

The game against Olton was an evenly-matched contest, with both teams creating a similar number of chances. Sils started brightly with Rush testing the opposition keeper inside the first 5 minutes, and Harrison firing a ball into the D that Higgins almost deflected Into the net.

Sils were solid at the back, with Aylin and Bates forceful and effective in breaking down Olton's attacks, and quick to use both flanks to counter-attack on several occasions. However, Sils fell behind midway through the first half when they were punished by a defensive lapse. The ball was crossed into the D, where a first time strike was squeezed past Yogi.

As the game progressed, Sils continued to push forwards and forced consecutive short corners early in the second half, creating excellent opportunities to equalise on both occasions. First Rush stretched the hamstrings of the Olton keeper when he sent the ball narrowly wide of the post, then Willetts woke up the Air Traffic Control staff @ Birmingham Airport when he launched a ball into the sky, despite being only three metres from the goal line.

As the game ebbed and flowed, both sides created chances but it was Olton who managed to double their lead through a penalty stroke on the hour. Sils refused to capitulate, and worked relentlessly to create opportunities to get back into the game, with Harris and Lyons impressing with their commitment and workrate. Special mention must also go to Tony Dwyer, who covered more ground in the game than ever seen in the whole of last season (Tony, I don't believe Keith's suggestion that this was because you were looking for the wallet that you dropped in the warm-up).

The enforced absence of Captain Ffitch may cause a rethink in formation over the coming weeks, but M4 will take great heart from the performance, and prepare for next week's trip to Sutton confident that they can, and will, score goals and earn points in the run-up to Christmas.