M2 Draw 3-3 Despite Dominant Performance

West Hampstead M1 3 – 3 SHC Men’s 2s

“No Away Game is Easy”

When Dave Bartram scored after 15 seconds of the game, West Hampstead’s conceded 10, scored 0 record to date looked only to be widening.

We leave on the tube (much quicker than driving FYI) with the “no away game is easy” message stamped on the brains of the 2020-21 squad and those who were at Maidenhead last November thinking, “we’ve been here before”.  If we take as many lessons from this as we did that, we’ll be up there come March.

WH were organised, knew how to play on their pitch, made things difficult, tackled well and took their chances when they came.

Having said that, your writer scored the second goal of the game with a deft finish over a keeper in fine form – unfortunately that keeper was Ore and WH were level at 1-1.

I’m the first to ask Scott Evans to calm down but a stroke for what was a lovely shave tackle seemed very harsh and we were 2-1 down.

A slow pitch and keeper on his line hurt our drag flickers but did provide the chance for both injectors to get on the score sheet from rebounds. Bird and Linnell both scored their first of the season (at the correct end this time for the latter).

Unfortunately, bisecting those was a WH goal on the break and a nicely taken finish. We pressed towards the end but leave bitterly disappointed not to be taking three points home from a game we dominated.

With Pearny an avid reader of the 2s match report and taking Max Anderson as a result, Foxy and Jamie Taylor stepped up to be very good at hockey – Foxy taking the POM title.

Sugden Road next week can’t come quick enough. Banbury await.

Things we‘ve learnt this week:

• You need to fill in a form 24 hours in advance to get into Greece
• Jake’s haircut is dividing opinion
• Billy Winter is back
• Scoring past their keeper feels better than scoring past ours
• Train beers with your mates are fun even if you don’t win
• Jamie Taylor needs to back his social capital
• *No Away Game is Easy*

Goalscorers: Beanhead, Birdy, Rhys

POM: Foxy

DOD: Rhys