Men’s 2s 5 - 0 Havant 1s (A)
By Owen Barnes
It was a sunny day along the south coast, perfect conditions of heat and moisture which the mould in the Away End changing rooms was thriving on and surrounded the players before and after the game. The pitch was in perfect condition - nice and dry with loads of random bobbles.
The game started fast, end to end from the start, the pitch was spread like it was the fourth quarter already. Surbiton with constant attacks and high pressure against the Havant side but they managed to keep it out for the time being. The Havant side did attempt to break forward multiple times but the Surbiton defence had it very under control as little to no threads into the D were made.
After many efforts to score from inside the circle it was Nicholas Morgan who opened the scoring, which was the start of the floodgates opening.
In the closing moments of the quarter Surbiton won a short corner, which was a great opportunity to break another goal away - but it wouldn't be easy as they did have the "best shot stopper" Owen Barnes has ever seen in goal. However much to his pleasant surprise, Toby Balls caught the keeper off guard and sent the ball rocketing down his left foot and in between the left postman with a drag flick to make it 2-0 as the quarter ended.
Spirits were high from the Surbiton side but this did not mean they were to become complacent.
The second quarter began, and once again was end to end. Havant were still in their all or nothing full press but Surbiton kept finding each other through their false pressure and made connections between the lines to open up entries into the 25 and D. Havant won a short corner which could have made it 2-1 and closed the gap slightly but after a drag flick that got sent towards the right postman, Rob Farrington batted it out of the goal to keep them at bay. For Surbiton after a numerous more short corners and shots it was two minutes before the end of the half when Adam Harris in the centre of the D found the scraps to push the ball into the goal to make it 3-0.
After discussing in our lines what we needed to win this game within our own roles and responsibilities, it was Rorro who made sure to repeat the point that we do not get complacent in addition to, "I don't care if they're bleeding on the floor I want you too keep kicking them,” which was a very nice metaphor for expressing his passion for us to keep pushing forward and playing the beautiful hockey that had already been displayed along with the grit and determination of working for one another.
The sun was lowering but the Surbiton great escape was still rising high as we entered the third quarter: another quarter of pure Surbiton domination and teamwork. Jack Hobkirk's ankle breaking movement in the midfield, Nick Nurse's ball carrying down the lines, Max Anderson's important tackles, the list would go on if I were to go through the team’s strength as the game progressed. All this teamwork and cooperation led to Ben Hanson deciding he wanted to score next and he broke forward to secure the Surbiton side’s fourth goal in the 39th minute. Then within three minutes Tom Hebert scored the fifth and final goal for the Surbiton side, which was the nail in the coffin!
This result means the Men’s 2s have now secured their place within the league for next season!