Won 3-2
Scorers: Podd x2, Lea
MoM: Tom Rogers
DoD: Hugh Thompson
With thanks to team sponsor M4 http://www.kess-recruit.co.uk
The 4s continued their excellent start to the season, moving up to second place in the table with a hard fought and perhaps slightly fortuitous win over Anchorians.
The heavens opened on the drive up the M2, with Gillingham away a game that makes you question the morality of hockey. An enticing fixture for the real can you do it on a wet day in Stoke purists.
The previous match overran, and with only a five minute warm up, Canterbury were decidedly luke-warm out the blocks. The first 15 minutes saw our goal peppered, with only the experience of Andy Howard (in fine form), and the wall of Morts and Carter keeping Gills at bay. It was great to have Panayides and Thompson back in the side at half backs, Panayides with his weekly 8/10, Thompson spraying balls and aerials to all corners.
But eventually a midfield marshalled by Faz, featuring the tenacity of Tom Rogers and engines of Lester, Fox and Lawford will be difficult to repress.
The 4s created numerous short corners, and finally the deadlock was broken, Lea from the top, good save by the defender/keeper, before falling to game poacher Podd- you know the rest, 1-0.
For the next half hour Canterbury dominated the ball and spurned numerous good chances/short corners. Frustratingly, this left us 2-1 down with ten minutes to go.
However, a moment of badness from Gillinghams centre back, saw him attempt an aerial under no pressure straight at Podd, one touch control, into Matt Leas path, and you do not score over 1,000 club goals by missing that, 2-2.
Faz continued to push us forwards, claiming the ball and racing back to the centre spot. The next five minutes were frantic, and the helter-skelter style created further chances. Gills cb once more with a pressured pass, was picked up by Matt Lea, to Faz in the centre, very kindly passing up the opportunity himself to tee-up Podd for his second, Canterburys third, and the game was afoot.
Special mentions to Joe Lester for stepping up and being solid, and Tom Rogers who was outstanding once again. At one stage shrugging a 25 year old off the ball who had a sense of humour failure.
Week off, then the big top of the table clash against Old Williamsonians, AW1 3pm- well done Ben.