In appalling conditions, driving rain and temperatures barely above zero, Southgate Adelaide and Hertford bashed through 70 minutes of hockey, sometimes a bit scrappy, sometimes surprisingly good, always exciting, just for the fun of it.
Adelaide had the better of the game overall. Short corner count of 6 to nil, and Andy had to make rather more save than his opposite number, but we had plenty of chances of our own (mostly Chris Dean being narrowly outpaced by the ball as he sprinted to the far post or the keepers pads). In the end nobosy wanted to spoil a fine game by scoring a goal.
Old friends aplent, with Chris Dean backfrom Uni, and Ewan and Dave Harding returning to the old side again. Cormac Green and Tom Weller joined us for their senior debuts, along with Lawrence Robinson on loan from the Academy, gave us our most youthful look for many a year. Together with Adam they excelled with smart, accurate short passing and creative use of wide space, interplaying well with Chris, Dave, and Ewan in the centre of the pitch. The backs fed a good mix of long and short balls from the back and there always seemed to be someone to receive.
Defence was effective enough against a lively Adelaide squad of equally mixed age. Keep players back, keep your sticks on the ground, let them make the mistakes. Andy bailed us out when that didn't work.
Big thanks to DPJ and Matt White for umpiring in the rotten weather, (and to Dave for helping with the catering). Hot showers, hot tea and hot dogs have rearely been so welcome.
Happy Christmas everyone, enjoy the rest, we're back on action 5 January!