Won 3-1
Scorers: John Aikin (3)
MoM: Tom Rogers
DoD: Sir Geoffrey Philpott
Well what a match – probably one of the best that the Friars have played this season and with just 11 players too.
However a first half of considerable intensity produced not a goal though it did see Geoff Philpott come a cropper with GK Simon Triggs so worried that Geoff was going to do himself an injury on the backboard heroically through himself underneath Geoff – or at least from the half way line it looked like that – lucky he was padded up!
The second half was an altogether more lively affair on the scoring front with Sittingbourne slotting first from some well worked open play. A short corner melee then saw Sir Geoffrey rather absent-mindedly imagining he was the goalkeeper and kicking the ball away (apparently) – luckily the resultant and not disputed short corner was saved by the real goal keeper – hey ho.
This then galvanised Friars with Tom Rogers on his adult hockey debut setting up John Aikin to equalise. Soon after a short corner was despatched clinically by Aikin senior in the extreme corner and 2 minutes from time Aikin (the old one) was set up by Rogers yet again. All 3 of the Friars youngsters – Tom Rogers, Arthur Aikin and Kyle Gurubatham were outstanding and quite happy to pass the ball to players 4 or 5 or even 6 times their age – no prizes for guessing who they are! Special mention to Luke McGee whose turn of speed from a standing start surprised not just the opposition.
In the warm Indian summer sunshine a big crowd – at least for Friars standards – had gathered including injured Friar Jamie Harris and occasional Friar JC. A retired Friar even turned up to in the name of RSM McCarthy and even the President of CHC was spotted scouting (no doubt for Squires players!) amongst the much varied talent on show.
The afternoon was rounded off with some fine ale purchased by hatrick hero Aikin which enabled Jamie and Grandpa Aikin to join the happy throng.