WHC 4s v WIT: Comeback Kids?

I’d like to recount the inspirational words of Captain Waugh as he prepared an uncommonly big squad to face an opposition well placed near the top of the league, however I was still trying to gather together borrowed playing kit and even lacked a stick to use as the starting line-up got the game underway. And a bright start it was too! Typically hungry for the ball from whatever source, Hogart soon chased down an unsuspecting WIT defender, stealing the ball cleanly, evading another tackle and then dragging the keeper out of position before slotting the ball home in behind him. 1 – 0 to the good guys!

It seemed like there might be more chances to come for the maroon musketeers. Perhaps going looking for more goals created a gap between our midfield and defense which the stronger players in the WIT midfield started to take advantage of. They seemed able to get up speed on the ball, having space to run at and stretch the Watsonian defence. A change of personnel in midfield (I finally got myself sorted with borrowed shorts, shirt and a stick to join other subs on the pitch) failed to contain this threat and while the game remained competitive overall it was WIT that took the advantage in no uncertain terms. They got two open play goals and Penalty Flick to show for their efforts and led 1 – 3 at half time.

It wasn’t all one way though, as regularly Watsonians too made breaks into the opposition D, creating several good chances and even getting the ball into the WIT goal when MacCormac followed up after Booth had squeezed the ball through the keepers pads. Unfortunately the effort was chalked off as Alex had forgotten that it’s the flat side of the stick that is to be used. Still, positive stuff in the face of a 2 goal deficit.

So the half time chat was about containing the obvious threat while continuing to create opportunities which must eventually result in goals. Concentration and discipline would be required from everyone to turn this around. And so it was as the second half got underway. The midfield in particular changed the game. Tilston and Blood played positive hockey, putting pressure on where it was needed and using the ball well when they had it. The result was sustained attack and soon resulted in a ball into the D breaking off a WIT foot on to Booth with the goal open in front of him. Unfortunately the umpire blew for the foot before seeing the advantage and so a short corner was awarded. The Watsonian corner routine was up to the job though. While the push out from Hogarth was significantly more powerful than the flick from Heigh the shot it found its way through the defenders and into the goal. Watsonians were right back in this and definitely on the front foot.

It wasn’t all one way traffic though, WIT still posed a threat on the break and on a few occasions only last ditch tackles, clearances off the line and some fine goalkeeping kept them at bay. Eventually a unusually well constructed move up the right (rather than the more familiar big hoof up the middle) saw a good ball across the top of the Watsonian D find a WIT forward with a yard of space. Using all of his considerable experience (he wasn’t their youngest player) he first timed the ball cleanly into the bottom corner to restore WITs two goal lead.

This only served to fire up Watsonians further though and the assault on the WIT defence intensified. A steal in midfield by Heigh presented the ball to Blood. A sharp pass took the ball to Booth at the top of the D. Pulling defenders to the left opened the opportunity for a shot at the near post which beat the keeper and closed the gap to one again. And it wasn’t long before the scores where level. Another decisive break into the D and Heigh could only be prevented from scoring by foul means. The resulting penalty flick was dispatch by Heigh and Watsonians could smell victory.

There was still work to be done at both ends though. Had it not been for a continued MOM performance by keeper Hamilton, WIT would certainly have re-established a lead. Going forward Watsonians piled on the pressure and yes we did find the net. MacCormac beating defenders on the left by line before slotting home neatly. Goalllll…/ NO! The whistle had gone for back stick by MacCormac in the build-up. Didn’t that happen earlier I hear you say! Yes indeed, that’s two goals chopped off because Alex doesn’t know which side of the stick to use. Surely worthy of a DOD award? Apparently not. Apparently kit and timing issues related to car failure are far more serious! Who’d have believed it?

And so the deadlock could not be broken and the game finished a 4 – 4 draw. Watsonians were satisfied though as from 1 -3 down at half time the kids, young and old, in the 4s that day read the situation well and reacted together to come back and earn a well deserved point.

Final thanks go to Swarbs for doing a fine umpiring job