Won 7-1
Scorers: F.Holland, R. Upton, S.Hurlow (2), P. Sharratt (3)
MoM: Paul Sharratt
With thanks to team sponsor MMil http://www.batchelorcoop.co.uk
Feeling refreshed from the half-term break, the Batchelor-Coop Millers faced Herne Bay in the balmy afternoon sunshine on AW2; the weather being noticeably reflected in captain Sharratt’s uncharacteristically sunny, and wholly positive, pre-game disposition.
Sharratt is fast drawing comparisons with original ‘Tinker-man’ Claudio Ranieri, as he chose to start with yet another experimental formation. This caused confusion (to both sides) but once Freddie had deflected in the first goal, following a gliding Reef run to set him up, a few discrepancies were fine-tuned (a reversion to 4-4-2) and all was well. 1-0. Reef doubled the lead from a penalty corner shortly after. 2-0. And then the omnipotent Hurlowdinho struck a third before the break.
Half-time embodied the captain’s continued positivity and the Haribo were flowing liberally.
The crucial ‘first goal after the break’ was scored by the home side through Hurlowdinho. After toying mercilessly with the keeper at close range (read: it took two or three attempts to stop putting it straight at him) he eventually fired-home. 4-0.
A penalty corner strike from the captain made it 5-0 and then a carbon-copy strike from him, minutes later, made it 6-0.
A fly in the ointment was Humey’s cracking penalty corner deflection (while ‘defending’); this prompted an immediate post-match investigation into his historic links, and loyalties, to HB! 6-1. However, it was fitting that the captain had the final word, stepping up for his final corner strike of the day and, inevitably, claiming his hattrick with it. 7-1.
A great result, with good all round performances but in particular Reef, Harper, Wilf and Sam. Our thanks to Phil and Brad for umpiring.