Mens 2's Win 10-3

House Master(s) lead the way, but Henry lights up the finale !

Earlier in the season we lost 3-2 away against Chippenham in a game where somehow we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory!
This time it was another game of 2 halves against a very spirited 10-man Chippenham team. Captaincy was handed to Keith Radnedge, as Andy Davidson came up with some weak lame excuse of a broken finger to sit it out for a few games! The basic story of the first half was that we scored two very quick goals and then forgot how to play hockey, and let Chippenham play to their game plan of shutting us out , then smashing the ball at every opportunity to their lone (angry!) striker up front , to bang in the goals, which frustratingly he duly obliged almost every time he got the ball !
The goals scorers for Marlborough were Gareth Playfair (5), Mark Kinder (2 – great goals, more later!), and one each for Henry & George Nicholson and Dan Dix. So the brief story of the game was:
up.
1-0 Gareth Playfair scores from a very tight angle - continuing his amazing goal rush this season.
2-0 Gareth scores from a short corner. Less than 5 minutes gone 2-0 and then forgot how to play hockey !
2-1 Chippenham score - angry striker scores on the break and the celebratory shout could be heard back in Chippenham!
2-2 Chippenham score again (WHAT - 2 shots 2 goals !). Chippenham were now well fired up and played the much better hockey with 10 men for large parts of the first half, as Marlborough lost their structure, and patience, and kept trying to force too much through the middle.
3-2 Mark Kinder scores an amazing goal( from a ball smashed up the middle - funny-old-game!. Rich Fynn picked the ball up on the half way, looked left and right, then smashed the ball to the right half of the D, where out of nowhere House Master Kinder dived full length and deflected the ball into the top left corner. A great goal worthy of the entrance fee alone !
HALF TIME – We were not playing well and we knew it. A few choice words from some elders soon put that right - don't be lazy, use the subs, up the work rate, stretch them wide and move the ball quicker and double up on the “angry” striker and shut out the long ball. Simple! What a second half scoring 7 goals!
4-2 Mark Kinder repeats his amazing first goal with Dan Crossman firing another ball down the middle to a diving Mark Kinder, who deftly deflected the ball from 7 yards and it flashed into the top right corner. There was an Ooh and Ahh from the huge crowd of 2 !
5-2 Gareth Playfair was not happy with the Dauntseys House Master muscling in with 2 great goals and decided to show him who is the top goal scorer is this season ! Gareth put in a trademark dribbly run, by passing defenders and flicked the ball high into the net passed the keeper. (Playfair 3, Kinder 2….Dauntseys, back in your box!)
6-2 Dan Dix got in on the act as Mark Kinder put in a strong run down the right , cut in along the by line, desperately sniffing another goal, and his way was shut out by lots of defenders and he pushed the ball through to Dan Dix perfectly positioned at the back post. (Playfair 3, Kinder 2 + Assist. If I can't score them , I will make them !)
7-2 Marlborough were now stretching Chippenham all over the pitch and the 10 man team started to tire. We were awarded a penalty flick (though not everyone agreed with the decision!) and without hesitation Gareth Player stepped up and slotted home. Although, most eyes and people were fixated on watching House Master Kinder doing his utmost to calm down a very angry striker (twice Kinder’s size!) – who was very keen to let a lot of people know that he was not happy with the decision. (Playfair 4, Kinder (4.5) 2 + Assist + on field Anger Management Advice (worth 2 goals at least !) …Dauntsey's nudges back in front! This side game almost as exciting as the main match itself ! .
7-3 Chippenham scored on a breakaway, as we switched off for a moment, but to be fair it was nothing less than Chippenham deserved for their efforts.
8-3 Gareth Playfair scores his 5 goal - WOW ! (Playfair 5, Kinder 4.5 – Marlborough House Master nudges in front again and just nicks it on a points count back! With the two House Masters having given and excellent display of hockey it was now left to the youngsters to do their bit.
9-3 George Nicholson scored an excellent reverse stick strike. He drove into the D, turned one way then the other, team mates either side of him screaming for the ball. With his back to goal, he shifted the defenders to his left , turned sharply to the right and struck a beautiful reverse stick from the top of the D.
10-3 Finally not to be outdone by his elder brother, Henry Nicholson got in on the act and lit up the pitch with a poachers goal, as he smoked one into the baccy-the-net !! Another good goal from our youngest team mate. Henry then set off on his now trademark celebration, suitably encouraged and impersonated by his more elder and less responsible team mates!! Henry time for “More goals and less smoke !”

So it was another game of two halves and we ran away comfortable winners in the second half, but only once we had learnt to play smart hockey.
We now look forward to back to back games next weekend.

MAN OF THE MATCH – House Master Playfair, narrowly pipping many other contenders across the pitch, but you argue with 5 goals !