M6 Worthy Winners Against Addiscombe

Men’s 6s 3 – 2 Addiscombe M2s

Lucky for some 13 Surbiton players chose to play in the Surrey Prem rather than watch the World Cup final. It was a good choice.

The team of four adults and nine colts started off brightly in atrocious conditions and Toddy opened the scoring with a straight strike from a short corner. We had five corners in the first half and went close a couple of times more.

James Cake added a second with an outrageous reverse shot into the roof from the left side of the D. We were coasting and really should’ve had more when the opposition got a lucky break taking a long corner which appeared to go straight into the D. Big T saved the shot but as the ball bobbled from the rebound unfortunately Ben put it into our net when trying to clear it.

Shortly before half-time in a packed D with seemingly nowhere to go Dylan persevered and he too scored a cracking goal with a reverse shot from right of the D. 3-1 up at half time.

The second-half though was as much toil as industry from the 6s and our hockey was not as coherent and joined up as in the first. We didn’t score another goal although we came very close (including Westie!) and had more penalty corners. Dylan was unlucky when after an infringement the oppo umpire played advantage only to blow for a short corner when he was clearly going to cream the ball into the goal. 

To be fair Addiscombe also pressed us and won a few short corners but insisted on drag flicking each one of them in slow motion. The second bit of luck for Addiscombe came from another long corner when the ball was quickly crashed into the D and deflected off Westie’s stick into the goal.  True to form the oppo alleged it had also hit an Addiscombe forward’s stick. This was clearly news to the forward but in the commotion a goal was given. 3-2. 

That’s how the score stayed and we were worthy winners. 

Special mention to debutant and man of the match Connor for a gutsy and skilful performance and Welsh goalie Jack Tranter (playing out of goal) who worked hard and entertained in equal measure. Finally special thanks to Mark Waller (who missed the final) and Pies for blowing in the absence of our stalwart umpire George.