Golden Boys park the buses

What a difference a week makes: last weekend saw the 3s/4s at capacity with a full squad of 16, this week the 3rd XI could only field 11 players - but what an XI they proved to be!
The 3rd XI began their division 5SW league campaign away at the hockey heavyweight of Southgate - their 3As had been promoted to the league so we knew little about them other than they:

1. Would probably be a blend of mainly youth and experience - rather like Jon G's stash of "The Ardmore Legacy" (albeit that's peated and unpeated!)
2. Had beaten Hertford 4s heavily last season

Winning the toss and selecting ends meant Southgate started with the ball, and they kept it for large amounts of the game, playing their expansive probing hockey.

Despite the onslaught the Hertford 3s remained strong, getting plenty of players behind the ball and forcing Southgate's play wide of our circle. The defence of Robert Davies, Jon G, Miles H-L, and Ed Hartley repelled almost all Southgate threw at them, and when they were breached goalkeeper Rob "The Rock" Furse dealt with any shots with a Thou Shalt Not Pass attitude, blocking and clearing all 'gates attempts on his goal.

Throughout the half the midfield quartet of Oli H-L, Jasper Carr, Finn Kennedy and Doug Ashworth worked tirelessly up and down the flanks and all over the pitch to ensure 'gate were restricted in time and space so could not gain an advantage. Forwards Nick Earnshaw and Aodhan G had little opportunity to probe the Southgate defensive third but instead worked intelligently with the midfield, dropping in to take their turn, making tackles and channelling opposition players to safe areas so Southgate couldn't score.

The theme remains largely the same in the second half with strong tackling around our own D proving key. Towards the end, a hit from central defence to Oli on the right wing seemed like it may just catch 'gate on the break, but they got numbers back quickly to snuff out our brief threat.

Several years ago the then Chelsea FC Manager Jose Mourino referred to "Parking the bus". In this case it felt like we parked a whole fleet of of Golden Boy coaches! It was very hard to pick a man of the match as everyone worked so hard to ensure we open the season with a point. It may only be one but it's a start and it was so well earned it probably felt like 3. Top work lads, and very well played Southgate!