For some reason we played this week as if none of us had played for a month. I wonder why?
Despite a sluggish and uncoordinated performance, against an experienced but fortunately rather profligate Tankards side, we came surprisingly close to grabbing a point. Apart from the first ten minutes when we barely got out of out 22, and the last 10 when we threw everything at them and pinned them in their 22, the game itself was evenly contested, but the statistics for short corners, shots and shots on target were overwhelming in favour of Southgate. Despite some agile moves through midfield and some promising breaks, we couldn't find the finishing pass and rarely tested their keeper. Luckily Nick Izzard played a blinder in goal, and our defence, though constantly struggling to keep proper shape, stuck in doggedly with last ditch tackles, and ironically it took a thick deflection off my stick just before half time to beat Nick and put us behind.
Special mentions this week for Will Collier for some smart reading of the game in defence, quick and accurate distribution and good wide positioning - we should have used him much more in the 2nd half.
The results may be tailing off, but we're back on the pitch again so let's enjoy it and hope for better things next weekend!