Boys U14 Scorpions in Tense Wayfarers Win
By Ollie F
Surbiton Boys U14 Scorpions 3 – 2 London Wayfarers BU14 A
As Surbiton BU14 Scorpions turned up to a sunny Dulwich College to play against London Wayfarers, we all knew that if we won we would go to of the league. Led by Frosty the gameplan was simple, our formation would be a solid 4-5-1 playing counter-attacking hockey. We thought that the plan worked as we won four penalty corners inside five minutes.
However, typically we didn't convert any and soon Wayfarers built into the game with our keeper Joe B and our brilliant defence called into urgent action. The gameplan was working because as much as they had 70% possession we looked a massive threat on the counterattack and they couldn't score. We managed to survive until half time where we rebuilt our confidence. However, unfortunately this didn't work as after a PC they rebounded it in after Joe's brilliant save. We regrouped knowing that the game was still in the balance with over 20 minutes left. Then, as we won our seventh PC, we converted after a smart deflection from Ollie F, wrong footing the keeper. We now held the momentum and as Freddie L ran down the baseline and slapped the ball into the D, a deflection from a Wayfarer defender took it away from the keeper and into the net. As Freddie was inside the D it was a goal despite their protests. However Wayfarers came back strongly and with just three minutes left on the clock despite Joe and three defenders’ best efforts on the line we just couldn't stop the ball from finding its way into the goal.
With just two minutes left Wayfarers wanted the draw which would keep them top of the table so they were already celebrating when Sam C received the ball in front of goal and nutmegged the keeper to secure a tense 3-2 victory for Surbiton.
Special thanks to Frosty, our coach. A celebratory chocolate was a great way to end the road trip, and to make things better the heavy rain only started as we got in the car home.
Goal scorers: Ollie F, Freddie L, Sam C