Lost 1-2
Scorers: Dom Curtiss
MoM: Ben Beatty
DoD: Andrew Dunn
With thanks to team sponsor M2 http://www.fluidity.uk.com
Fireworks, aerial bombardment and a bad case of Jellyhands
Around Fireworks Night, the usual advice is to keep pets safely indoors. The loud bangs, unexpected flashes and general commotion can leave normally dependable animals nervous, unsettled and behaving strangely.
Unfortunately, nobody thought to apply the same precaution to Canterbury’s own Jellyhands, whose visibly jittery performance has resulted in the traditional punishment of being handed this week’s match report.
Eastbourne arrived with six wins from six games. Having finished second in the league for each of the past three seasons, they were looking to go one better this season.
There was drama before a ball had even been struck. Morgan turned up, successfully negotiated his way into the starting XI and then completed the rather more difficult feat of not actually playing a single minute. Quite what tactical masterstroke was being attempted remains unclear, but his contribution from the bench was faultless.
Once underway, Canterbury started brightly. They took the game to Eastbourne and deservedly went ahead, courtesy of a goal from Dom Curtiss. Half-time, 1–0 up.
Things were going well. Sam Hoad, back from international duty on a tricky pitch in Malaysia, was using the occasion to demonstrate the full extent of his aerial passing range. Several passes were genuinely impressive and as the game progressed, an encouraging number even succeeded in clearing the first Eastbourne attacker.
Eastbourne came out strongly after the break and began to show why they have spent the past three seasons challenging at the top of the league. They levelled the score with a tidy back post finish – the kind that Coach Lumley would love to see from his side. Canterbury though continued to battle and man of the match Ben Beatty made an excellent penalty-stroke save to keep his side level.
Alas, the visitors found a winner to complete the turnaround and maintain their winning start to the season. The final score of 2–1 perhaps was a little harsh on Canterbury, but it was still a performance with plenty of positives.
Stuart Goodman for example was able to slot seamlessly into an unfamiliar role and demonstrated willingness to play out of position for the greater good. Unflappable during the game, he was ruffled post-match upon discovering that several members of the side were heading to his niece’s party that evening. Was his concern caused by a realisation that time is marching on? He needn’t be worried, Stuart cycles 10 miles before matches and is in great shape, which is more than can be said for Stewart Keir’s car and we look forward to the party report next week.
Despite the result there was a silver lining; a quiet satisfaction for the senior members of the squad, whose pre-match prediction that Michael Farrer would eventually be mentally undone by the appearance of his nemesis (faux-Cow) proving depressingly accurate. Some things in hockey are difficult to predict but this, apparently, was not one of them and in future we’ll endeavour to keep Faz away from known psychological triggers.
Result aside, the most enjoyable game of the season so far.
And the final note – next November, while everyone else is checking on the dog, closing the curtains and turning up the radio, someone might also want to find a quiet, darkened room for Jellyhands, at least until the fireworks have stopped.