First Defeat of Season for Sparticans

SHC Sparticans 3 – 4 Sunbury & Walton Hawks M4

Scorers: Grant, K (2), Fitch (O)

Umpires: Ian Wyatt, Andy Parker

Spartican of The Day: Fitch (O)

Saturday is best described as one of those days, as the Sparticans faltered to our first defeat of the season after a disappointing performance. 

We started brightly and dominated the early stages, before sadly conceding a breakaway goal. And then another. In between these moments, we did put together some promising play, and over the course of the 70 minutes had countless short corners, but unfortunately a mix of average shooting and significantly above average defending and keeping meant we failed to convert these.

Sunbury and Walton played well throughout, and have added quality to their team from last season. As confirmed by a number of comments, they also clearly have a more assiduous approach to training than the Sparticans. Another goal went against us, and then we pulled one back through Kevin following a scramble. Very unfortunately, the Hawks then scored another – with a 100% success rate in terms of shots/goals, a great day for their strikers.

With a mountain to climb, we changed formation and bombarded our opposition’s goal. First Fitchy junior, and then Kevin again brought us to 4-3 but unfortunately we ran out of time and couldn’t grab a point.

The club’s teas and overall ambience once again provided an excellent backdrop for our debrief, where no fewer than eight players received nominations for Spartican of the Day, eventually won by Oliver, much to his father’s chagrin. Indeed, the team had a true family feel to it this week, with four father and son combos, and the Grant brothers, meaning 2/3 of the team were related to another member. This did also mean there were fewer disappointed households once we went our separate ways, following much debate on Kevin’s new Hot Tub tactics and other high-powered discussions. 

Well done to the Hawks, and thanks to Ian and Andy for blowing today. We move onto Epsom next week with renewed determination to return to winning ways.