Magnets 5 - 1 Southgate MO50s Titans (H)

Scorers: Dye 2, Stone 2, Hey

Squad: Barnicoat, Beaney C, Beaney R, Dowthwaite, Dye, Foster, Frost, Hardy, Hey, Laws, Stone,Todd, Waller

This was a great result for the Magnets, lifting us out of the relegation zone, the perfect way to end the first half of the season. Equally pleasing was the fact that we played our best hockey of the season so far.  

Southgate came with a strong squad and started the game well. But the Magnets quickly stifled their ambitions and they realised that we probably presented a stiffer challenge than they might have expected and reset to a more defensive mode.

The first half was fairly well-balanced but we ended up taking a 3-0 advantage into the half time break. The first two goals were sublime. Firstly a fine passing move involving Stoner and Jim that ended with a through pass to Ravvers who slid in a deflection past the keeper. The second saw Jim cleverly control the ball at the top of the circle and get off a quick and sweetly struck strike that left the keeper stranded. The third came from a Ravvers PS after a goalbound shot had been illegally stopped.

In the second half we continued to play well but Southgate struck back with a PC strike as we began to tire. The goal seemed to unsettle us a little and unforced errors started to creep in. But, we restored our three goal advantage after Stoner tapped in after a trademark precision pass from Ravvers found him unmarked in the circle. We then lost our discipline a little and were reduced to nine men for a short spell. Despite that, Stoner scored again, this time with a PC strike that went down the middle and through the keeper’s legs.

The final scoreline probably flatters a little and belies that this was a tough game. Of course, having our irregulars available made a big difference. But everyone played a part in what was an important win and came off the pitch with smiles and a sense of satisfaction at a job well done.

Thank you to Andy and Richard for umpiring. It is never easy to control 22 irascible middle-aged men, but for the most part the game flowed without too much dissent.  

Now time to enjoy the Christmas break before returning to league action with an away trip to Indian Gymkhana on 13th January.