Drew 1 – 1
Scorers: Simone Hurlow
MoM: Thomas Newell
With thanks to team sponsor MMil http://www.batchelorcoop.co.uk
Another tough encounter at Westlands School for the Batchelor-Coop Millers. The visitors started the first half well, playing the better hockey and dominating the possession stat’s during the opening 20minutes. However, ever the living embodiment of his pre-match team-talk to “show some grit and get stuck in!” another ‘light-touch’ moment from the Millers captain saw him flatten one of the opposition in the Millers D and a penalty stroke was the result. Unfortunately, it was a well-taken flick and the home side edged into a slender lead.
Half time was nonetheless reasonably positive with the Millers knowing that they were in the ascendency and still had another gear or two in reserve. Thomas Newell and Arthur Aitkin had both been notable up front and, also, Reef Upton in the middle of the park.
The Millers were definitely the better side in the second half and continually created pressure and opportunities, with Morgan Abbott (impressive on his Millers debut at right-back) and Pete Ratcliff both making marauding runs down the flanks. It was from a penalty corner rebound that Simon Hurlow eventually netted though, with a fine reverse effort, to draw the Millers level.
The visitors continued to push forward and were unlucky not to have a penalty stroke of their own awarded (on several occasions) as the home side got ever more physical defending inside their own D. However, despite several very close efforts on goal, the score remained 1-1 at the final whistle. A great, high-tempo effort from everyone involved and Ben Beatty in goal continuing to maintain a great level of consistency through the early part of the season.
Comparisons between Paul “Steamroller” Sharratt and Chelsea legend Ron “Chopper” Harris were still being drawn late into the night and for anyone wanting to witness this tough, old-school style defending, the Millers return to Polo Farm for next Saturday’s late fixture on the show pitch.