Watsonians 3s v ESM 2s

A wet, cold January afternoon awaited the Watsonians men. It was hard to have spirits lifted in conditions such as this. Even Conkie, a hardy veteran, explained that a hot cup of tea in front of the fire was preferred. No matter, ESM 2s stood in front of the boys in white and warmth.

Having missed the warm up due to umpiring the previous match [that was LJ umpiring], captain Stewart had obviously been working on his pre-game talk. The boys in white came out all guns blazing (and in a recognisable formation) with an early chance by youthful Cannon saved by the keeper coming within the early minutes of the match. The promise of Dominoes pizza for him by Mrs. Cannon had the schoolboy play with increased intensity (if only he had looked to pass across the keeper to Taylor in front of an open goal).

No matter, the early chance gave the Watsonians an increased level of optimism. Another chance by Cannon breaking through the ESM defence, learning from previous, looked for forward partner Taylor to score and put Watsonians ahead, ending Taylor’s goal scoring drought!

This did nothing but lift the intensity of ESM, who came back within a couple of minutes to level the match. On came the strong bench of Conkie, Johnson, Littlejohn and Hogarth. Other chances went by, including a 2 on 1 with the goal keeper by Booth and Pyper playing it straight to the pads and not the goal behind (hope this was argued as a possible DoD) [Nope]. The strength and depth of the squad came through in the half but still no way to break the 1-1 score line.

Sensing the momentum favouring the men in white, Stewart opted to keep the players finishing the half on the field into the second half. This would later see be a stroke of tactical genius, as not long after saw Long charging down the right hand side in the opposition half into the D and scoring past the outstretch ESM keeper, 2-1 Watsonians.

ESM were unable to keep hold of the ball and the Watsonians team often happy and comfortable to keep the ball in defence. Tiring the opposition saw more opportunities, including DoD Littlejohn’s chance at a short corner missing the opportunity in front of an open goal. Undeterred and keen to make up kept control of the midfield distributing the ball poetically throughout the team, later earning him MoM as well.

The Watsonians team looked to hold out the match until a questionable decision by the Watsonians’ umpire saw ESM win a short corner, on the final whistle! This last opportunity seized by ESM saw them draw the match with a well worked and composed passing play in the D into the back of the goal.

Rarely do you play a match where both teams come off happy with a draw. Although cold, miserable and wet, both ESM and Watsonians at the end came off the pitch having enjoyed a good, competitive game of hockey.

Thanks to Ozzie for Umpiring