Won 6 – 0
Scorers: Ollie Neal (2), Ben Hancock (2), Reef Upton, Morgan Abbott
MoM: Thomas Newell
With thanks to team sponsor MMil http://www.batchelorcoop.co.uk
The Batchelor-Coop Millers travelled to South London this week, braving Bluewater Christmas-shopping traffic and, for some more stoic members of the team, the ‘thrill’ of travelling by Sharratt’s version of the Santa Express!
Missing influential midfielder Simon Hurlow this week, lost to ‘elfing duty’ at Santa’s Grotto, the team was reassured to see a positive ‘green and white’ omen in the changing rooms (see photo) before the game. Spurred on by this dubious ‘sign’ the visitors started well, playing quick-passing hockey. A mere five minutes in and this paid dividends as Tom drove to the baseline in the D and pulled back for Morgan to power the ball into the goal. A cheeky reverse stick effort from Ollie came a few minutes later to double the visitor’s lead.
The Millers were rampant now and from their first short corner of the game pulled yet further ahead when Reef coolly flicked past the keeper for their third (Ollie, on injecting duty, had clearly been inspired by his sisters short-corner pull-outs in the FIH Pro-league earlier in the week).
The chances were coming thick and fast and Ben Hancock calmly despatched one of the these from the top of the D to make the lead four. Half-time and unfamiliar territory for the Millers – comfortably ahead and still playing well, so discussion centred on maintaining the intensity.
BBHC had given themselves a ‘talking-to’ at half time and had a tail-wind in their favour now. However, the chances were still coming fairly frequently for the visitors. Ollie bagged his second from close range, 15minutes into the half, and then Ben Hancock added his second, and the Millers sixth, five minutes after.
The Pepsi-Max man of the match award went to Tom, for his three goal assists. His reward was a seat behind the driver on the way home, where he found the length of his legs to be inversely proportional to the ‘compact and bijou’ amount of space available. And thus ends a great first half of the season for the Millers.
Squad: Ben Beatty (GK), Nirpal Saraon, Pete Ratcliff, Sembeh Jalloh, Dave Upton, Chris Upton, Reef Upton, Morgan Abbott, Neil Barnes, Paul Sharratt (C), Thomas Newell, Ben Hancock, Ollie Neal
