Magnets Hit Tring for Six
By Mark Waller
Magnets 6 – 1 Tring
Scorers: Dowthwaite 2, Beaney R, Campbell, Beaney C, Waller
Player of the Match: Chris Beaney
In wet and miserable conditions the Magnets laboured to a less than convincing victory over a Tring side that has been struggling so far this season. Despite putting six past them, we really ought to have doubled the scoreline. However, whether it was lethargy or complacency we simply under-performed.
The first half was scrappy and rushed with no fluidity and cohesion. Too often we looked for the long or difficult pass when simpler options were available. Still, all the pressure and short corners did result in a steady flow of goals, and in the end Tring had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable.
The match was enlivened by two moments of comedy (or perhaps pure incompetence); the first a botched substitution which saw a pass from defence roll harmlessly off the sideline past the player being subbed and the one coming on, neither of whom noticed until too late that the ball was heading their way. The second was Hughie’s attempt at a pass which ended with him missing the ball completely and his stick flying through the air instead, which he quickly blamed on the wet conditions in the face of skepticism from his teammates.
A typically solid performance from Chris Beaney gained him the MoM award, with Matt Sabben-Clare, Powders, Waldo and Dowthers mentioned in despatches.
Thanks very much to Jeremy (1st half), Richard (2nd) and Ben for umpiring. Also to Craig for stepping in to help Tring who found themselves a player short on the day. As is often the way, he was their best player and helped make the game more competitive than it might otherwise have been.