Won 5 – 0
Scorers: Simon Hurlow, Paul Sharratt, Neil Barnes, Ollie Neal, Thomas Newell
MoM: Teddy Ridings
With thanks to team sponsor MMil http://www.batchelorcoop.co.uk
The Batchelor-Coop Millers emerged onto AW2, for this midday showdown, clearly revitalised after the half-term break and with an evident effervescence in their step. Indeed, the Millers were the physical embodiment of their skippers mantra: “pace and energy”, from the very outset of this encounter.
With slick transfers around the back of defence and a rampant midfield and forward line, it wasn’t long before the home side were turning their relentless pressure into a series of short corners. The opening goal came when Chris Goulden slipped the ball left to the experienced Hurlow to hit home with power and panache. The second came from a near identical short corner routine but this time it was ‘vintage’ Sharratt providing the finish with his trademark verve!
Teddy Ridings and Tom Newell were both working hard up front and unlucky not to add to the tally, and it was a rebound from a Teddy Ridings shot that provided Barnes with the third goal. The ball fell to him a full two yards out and it was with the ‘deftest’ of touches and a strong tail-wind that he ‘finessed’ the ball past two defenders, with all the precision of Ronnie O-Sullivan gently nestling the cue-ball against the baulk cushion. On this occasion, the ball rolled sanguinely forward until inertia, and a general malaise, caused it to reach a complete standstill a hairs-breadth the right-side of the goal-line.
Three goals to nil at half-time, and the keener-eyed among the team noted that the scorers combined age was already totalling a vertiginous 138years: the Friars drinking table was later heard vociferously decrying such statements as ‘youthful exuberance’ and boasted they were capable of a more substantial tally from just two scorers!
It is often the case that the second half brings a dip in energy levels, however, if anything the Millers came out with renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the tireless Reef Upton at centre-mid and Dave Upton still frequently marauding out of defence and up the right wing! Ollie Neal dispatched a fine reverse strike within ten minutes of the restart and Tom Newell added a fifth midway through the half, reacting fastest to a rebound off the keepers pads. Martin Long-Castro continued showing his silky skills throughout, breaking from midfield at pace, and coming close to adding a sixth, on several occasions.
This was one of those days, that occasionally happen, where nearly everything goes right from start to finish. It also demonstrated a clear, and hitherto undiscovered, scientific link between practicing short corners before the game and a subsequent positive conversion rate. This result was built on a solid defensive performance, with the rear-line distributing well from the back and snuffing out Anchorian’s attacks before they could threaten the goal. Barnaby, in goal, had a quieter day than usual but was imperious in his D when called into action.
Next week sees a tough fixture against Old Willy’s, with the Millers potentially missing one member of the team to “tent-pole Saturday”! A phrase, he assures us, that is apparently above-board ‘business-terminology’ for weekend working, rather than a lazy euphemism for something else, but the jury’s still undecided….
Thanks to Stu Mears and Matt Carney for officiating.