Sparticans Cruise Past Barnes Beavers
By Oliver F
Sparticans 5 – 1 Barnes Beavers
As the Sparticans turned up to what is mostly likely the last match of the calendar year, there was a relaxed atmosphere going around the team. As the match started on a cool Saturday lunchtime at Sugden Road, we were on the front foot from the off.
Within 40 seconds of the highly-anticipated match, we took an early lead, with the Grant brothers combining – Gary with the cross and Kev with a neat reverse stick finish. 1-0 was soon to become 2-0 as a smart pass found Matt Sutton, who joined us from the 5s this season, who calmly found the bottom corner of the goal with a cracking hit.
Soon, we were 3-0 up, a controversial finish by Lewis H after a goal-line scramble was finally given as a goal by the umpires after a long wait. 3-0 up after 7 minutes: a truly brilliant start.
We kept on attacking and soon we had another goal to our name. A free-hit taken quickly from Welchy through to Steve who after one mis-hit which rebounded off the keeper back to him, was able to slot home second time round (even though it was another mis-hit!). Even our mis-hits were going in now. As we took our foot off the gas, towards the end of the first half, we were fortunate not to concede, as keeper Lee made some smart stops to deny the Barnes attackers.
After some motivational words from the management team, Mini Fitch and Senior Fitch, we were ready to go again. In the second-half the match really opened up and in the end Barnes got their reward, albeit controversially, a converted short corner, which some believed was over the backboard deflected off Lee and into the net. The goal was given, despite Steve’s best efforts in trying to get it overruled.
A few minutes later we were on the attack again and after this passage of play, three of the Barnes players needed to go The Hockey Centre to get some new sticks after all three were battered in a big swing and a miss from Kev. Soon we were to have our reward for some positive play, Kev getting his second of the day – this time not missing as he made a clean hit from the top of the circle.
Five nearly became six as towards the end Lewis C had a cracking short corner routine disallowed and Richard missed an open goal, instead the ball hitting his foot and going into his chin. Fortunately, he was fine and as the match neared the end some comical time-wasting from Matt A by kicking the ball off the pitch after the decision was against us, won a hard fought Moment of The Match (MoTM).
As the game ended and we sat down to have our beautiful match teas, we reflected on what was a hard-fought year for the mighty Sparticans, finishing third last season and also being third so far this season. Spartican of The Day (SoTD) was a close-run thing with Jimmer edging Wardy and others.
Well played everyone and most likely see you all in the New Year.