Won 5v2
Scorers: Goodman x2, Keir, Kortlang, Parker
MoM: Stuart Goodman
DoD: Stewart Keir
With thanks to team sponsor MPil http://www.ideaworks.co.uk
The Cambridge English Dictionary defines a pilgrim as ‘a person who makes a journey, often a long and difficult one, to a special place for religious reasons’.
For the Canterbury Pilgrims, the journey was indeed long and difficult, in search of the result that their previous form had hinted at but not yet delivered. Hockey being our religion and Polo Farm our cathedral, it was the perfect setting for the most dominant display of recent years.
The form guide would have firmly backed the visitors from Gore Court. Sitting second in the league having won all but one game so far, versus Pilgrims sitting second from bottom having only lost all but one. But form guides count for little under lights at 4pm surrounded by the majesty of fortress Polo.
There could have been no better pre-match preparation than watching a scintillating 2nd XI game vs Holcombe beforehand. That game seemed to set the tempo for the start of the Pilgrims game as well as for the excitable crowd, featuring the Maidstone 1st XI who had made their own pilgrimage to sample the hospitality of the Polo Farm bar.
Perhaps Gore Court came expecting a walkover? They certainly would t have been expecting the mauling they received in the early encounters of the game.
Pilgrims were out of the blocks and gave the visitors no time or space on the ball. The pressure told after just five minutes with Pilgrims winning their first penalty corner of the game. The initial attempt was charged down and it fell to Andrew Hurst. Somewhat uncharacteristically, Hursty opted not to shoot and instead passed to Stuart Goodman whose first time shot beat the ‘keeper at his near post. Goody doesn’t miss from there.
Five more minutes of solid defensive structure, patient passing and overall dominance was rewarded with a second penalty corner. This one dispatched in more familiar style – a Stewie Keir flick doubling the home teams’ advantage.
Historicallly, in such situations, the Pilgrims may have been known to panic a little. Surprised by taking a lead against a high-flying team it would have been backs to the wall and see if we can hold on. Not this group of player. Not under the leadership of Simon ‘I want more’ Buckingham. More he wanted and more he got. And in some style, too.
Having tasted the joy that comes with providing an assist, Hursty played a 40-yard ball across the pitch to find Christian Kortlang diving full stretch between the Gore Court defender and goalkeeper to deflect in a third goal. A contender for goal of the season.
With two minutes left of the first half, Canterbury’s penalty corner defence were called into action. A fine goal line clearance by Dominic Curtiss was harshly adjudged by the unengaged umpire to have struck his foot on the line, resulting in a penalty stroke which was duly despatched. 3v1 to the Pilgrims at half time and a chance for timely reflection on a very fine half of hockey.
Well aware that the high-flying visitors were not going to lie down and take a beating from such lowly opponents, the ‘Grims set about maintaining the form and discipline demonstrated in the first half.
If Kortlang’s goal in the first half is a contender for goal of the season, then it will be competing with a remarkable solo effort from Jack Parker. Having picked the ball up near the half way line out on the left, Jack proceeded to run past Gore Court’s midfielders as if they’re weren’t there; then the half back, then the full backs before smashing it past the ‘keeper from the top of the D. 4v1.
Chances came and went at both ends throughout the second half.Brad Brown-Lea dominating his circle and making some solid saves to keep the visitors out. Gore Court did manage to breach the defence to pull it back to 4v2.
The Pilgrims weren’t yet done. And, importantly, man-of-the-match Stuart Goodman wasn’t done. Once again popping up to find the back of the net for his second and Pilgrims’ fifth. 5v2 the final score.
A superb team performance and the outcome being duly deserved for the form shown by the team in recent weeks. Onward and upwards! The ‘Grims will be looking to carry the same form into next week’s crucial game away to Cliftonville.
Squad: Brad Brown-Lea, Simon Buckingham, Nick Buckingham, Dom Curtiss, Will Gardiner, Stuart Goodman, Andrew Hurst, Stewart Keir, Christian Kortlang, Charlie Lloyd-Hughes, Harry McDonald, Hamish Murray, Jack Parker, Tom Rogers
