A chilly Monday night saw a rather defensively biased squad assemble in Coventry to take on the Berkswell & Balsall Common Vets.

With Monday night fixtures typically making availability lower, it was pleasing to see the 14 Sils players making up the team, even if some ended up playing in slightly less normal positions than they were used to.

Given the number of defenders in the squad, skipper Thurman opted for a 4-4-2 formation with the aim of absorbing pressure and trying to hit the home team on the break. Whether it was the cold conditions, the slightly slippy pitch or the unfamiliar positions for some of the players, the Sils did not quite gel in the first half. Most chances fell to the home team, but Steve Tabb in goal was equal to most efforts, and when a deflected PC did find its way into the goal, the umpires helped out by blowing for a foul in the defence's favour.

However, it was only shortly after this when one of the umpires had to turn against the Sils team; Liam Glorney, who was getting frustrated by the lack of service, also then took a ball to the toe, and reacted by kicking out at the person that had just fired the ball against his foot, and earned himself a 10 minute yellow.

This put the Sils on the back foot, and whilst they made half-time at 0-0, and continued into the second half on an even keel, the home forwards continued to press, and after a few saves kept the team in it, the inevitable goal was scored by the Berkswell side, with a forward turning the ball home from close range after a quick free hit left the Sils outnumbered at the back.

This did serve to fire up the Sils though, and they then dominated the final 10 minutes, with Sean Bates pulling the strings, to find the ever willing Mark Barton and Dave Ward as they pressed forward to support Thurman and Glorney in their attacking efforts. One particular move down the right looked like it would lead to a certain goal, but as Thurman pulled the trigger, the last remaining defender flung out a stick and deflected the ball over the bar to keep the score at 1-0 to the home team.

Shortly after, the full time whistle blew, and the Sils retired to the bar to lick their wounds, and award the inevitable DoD award to Glorney!

Whilst a 1-0 loss was disappointing, the evening highlighted everything that is great about the Sils Vets set up - a good close game, with both teams owning up to fouls to help out the umpires, and a team with 5 players who, 5 years ago, were not even playing hockey, giving a good run for their money to a side that had at least a couple of their Saturday 1st team players playing.