Won 0-6
Scorers: Kevin Miller 2, Nick Hopkin 2, Andy Ericson 2
MoM: Steve Laslett
DoD: –
With thanks to team sponsor M50
A spritely Over 50s arrived at Marden in the pouring rain for a 3pm pushback on Sunday with a bare twelve due to unavailability and injuries, with acting Manager Sharatt relying on his hockey stick as a walking stick!. As the rain ceased, champagne hockey from Canterbury commenced in the first half.
Canterbury started well, using short passes to create space and frustrate the opposition. Steve “injured” Laslett provided the much needed drive from right back, creating geometric triangles allowing the much needed space for the trio of Erikson (Swedish import!), Hopkin and Miller to exploit. Erikson opened the scoring showing tenacity to snaffle up a loose ball, turning like a graceful ballerina and score (although nobody knows what he was doing on the baseline in the first place!). The movement continued with some excellent passing from the back and through midfield creating further goals for Miller and Hopkin (2) for a 4-0 half time score. A perfect start, although the team talk focused on our inability to execute any aerials over head height let alone a few metres.
The second half was less structured as we tired, but we still created lots of chances. Eventually we won a PC and, after a very convoluted unplanned routine involving passes between 6 players, Miller tapped home at the far post. Erikson finished the scoring with another clinical pirouette and shot for a final score of 6-0. A great result for a tired 11 players and a rare clean sheet for Friar’s Trigger … although our aerial ability did not improve in the second half.
Special mention to Paul Sharatt for not putting a foot wrong but being there as our 12th man. Also a massive thank you to Mr Andy Mair for umpiring.