Super soaraway Sils destroy local rivals

Sils 4th XI have been improving with every week and on Saturday it was local rivals Hampton 4ths who were on the receiving end when everything went right for the Sils. Even though missing regulars Aylin, Bettridge and Jogi the squad of 14 had a total age of almost 700 (yes, really!), and it was all too much for Hamptons young(er) 'development squad' (their description, not ours).

Sils took an early lead through a scrambled goal by the opportunist Willetts. It wasn't long before Hampton pulled that back, but quickly after Sils regained the lead when Willetts put in a stinging shot which the keeper could only deflect upwards - whereupon Billie Jean Willetts produced an overhead smash to devastating effect, 2-1!

Hampton then took more control of midfield, though John 'Norman Bates' Harrison saw yellow when deciding that if the umpires weren't going to stop the home side from tackling from the wrong side, then he would.... with fairly predictable consequences.

Sils continued to soak up the pressure led in part, and during times when he could be found, by the Scarlet Pimpernel Ffitch. However, with just seconds to the interval Hampton grabed another equaliser. The umpires looked relieved.

However, most of the second half was a story of Sils domination and Willetts gleefully found the net, completing his hat-trick from 10 yards out in the inside right channel. Andy Rush carved open the home defence on several occasions and was unlucky when firing in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the circle only to find the umpire had blown up for an offence and not allowed the advantage to be taken. With 12 minutes to go a poor clearance from Hamptons keeper found Harrison and he picked out Willetts who made no mistake to claim his, and the Sils, fourth of the afternoon. The home side tried in vain to get back into it, but despite a string of 'interesting calls' awarding them numerous penalty corners, Sils back line - every one of whom played out of their skins on the day - held firm.

With Willetts managing to score only four goals, the Man of the Match decision was always going to be an obvious call, and it was therefore duly awarded (by a vote of 13 to 1) to midfield kingpin Simon Russell.