Marlborough A (6) v (2) City of Bath B.

On an amazing weekend of sport (football, 6 nations rugby, super bowl.....hockey!) the 2’s notched up consecutive 6-2 wins! Another strong team was assembled to take on City of Bath. Our best game earlier in the season, was against this opposition, when we crammed in a 4-minute warm up and came out on top (4-2). Today’s warm up may have stretched to 5 minutes and with a better result – 6-2 win! The team included a debut for Tristan Norman, who brought plenty of energy and bite to the midfield. Notably and surprisingly, it was also good to see Justin turn up on time (almost!) and he clearly was in the mood to score some goals today – four fabulous goals in fact!

Overall we played some excellent hockey and the goals were a mix of individual skills and great teamwork. The story of the match was:

1-0 Justin Metcalfe scores an excellent dribbling solo effort. He picked the ball up on the right, cut inside, pushed strongly towards the D, did his trademarked “scoop”, over a couple of defenders sticks and slotted the ball passed the keeper.

1-1 Against the run of play City of Bath got a short corner and clinically despatched it. Our heads did not drop and we were ahead again shortly afterwards following a long period of domination.

2-1 Justin Metcalfe scores again following an excellent pass from Nick Jephson. Justin drove straight into the D, and jinxed his way passed several defenders, and just as Andy Davidson was about to knock it in, Justin pounced and tucked it passed the keeper – a case of I WILL finish, what I started!

3-1 Justin Metcalfe completes his hatrick in the first half from a clinical short corner routine. Andy injected to Keith Radnedge, who slipped left to Mark Ramage. Mark had a shot well saved from the previous corner, and with keeper expecting the same again, Mark pushed the ball low and hard to the far post where Justin was waiting to deflect the ball up into the net. Textbook.

Half-time 3-1. Ed’s team talk was just to keep doing more of the same – maintain the intensity, watch the breakaway, and keep rotating the substitutes.

4-1 Mark Ramage flicks into the net following another good short corner routine. It was a complete repeat of the previous goal except this time Mark took it on himself and flicked powerfully past the keeper who stood no chance.

5-1 Andy Davidson scores at the far post following a flowing team move and great pass from Nat Clarke, who had another excellent game and is really starting to show his true potential. The ball flowed from the halfway out to the right to Mark Salvidge, who pushed it forward to Nat who drove forward and crashed a hard pass to Andy running in unmarked to score at the back post.

6-1 Justin Metcalfe scores his fourth goal following some great interplay down the left flank between Will Hodge and Ed Watson, the latter firing a ball in for Justin to deflect again at the far post. A goal to draw some admiration (or possibly shock, it was hard to tell) from the watching 1st team members fresh from their match tea.

6-2 Late on in the game City of Bath score from another short corner with a low hard shot into the corner.

Overall, another good win with a strong performance across the whole team. The larger squad and constant subs rotation in midfield and up front is definitely paying dividends. Everything is now set up perfectly for the biggest game of the season tomorrow against the leaders - North Wilts.

Marlborough News Online MAN OF THE MATCH – It has to be JUSTIN METCALFE for his four goals and his overall work rate.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH - The most important moment of the day happened afterwards back at the clubhouse. Dan Crossman’s (lost) wedding ring has been found park. We are all delighted for Dan – who is now allowed to continue playing hockey again !