M3: Reading 4 London Wayerfarers 2

Teams: Reading 3’s Vs London Wayfarers Heavies
Match Date: Saturday 25th October 2008
Location: Bradfield College
Team Writer: Tim Lavers

Team:

As the Reading 3s looked for their first victory on home turf we went over to Bradfield College to face the London Wayfarers Heavies who as it sat before Saturday, were up the top of the table in second place! The games started before the game started as “musical cars” initiated next to the pitch. It was a bit like unsynchronised driving as the cars were hidden behind a people carrier and then the people carrier moved so a flurry of drivers then moved further away from the very low sided fence next to the pitch. The majority were worried about a certain Lee Wayne Babbage and his ability to lift the ball away from the goal area, also Mr Hamilton was mentioned but didn’t seem to be as much a threat as the afore mentioned Babbage.

We had a good drill whilst waiting for the opposition to arrive as there was some sheep on the M4 holding up traffic, this did give us a little time to view the neighbouring pitch where some slightly more senior players were demonstrating their skills. Babbage looked on in awe and related to most of the team how he was pleased that he wasn’t on their pitch as he didn’t think he’d keep up with their pace! The opposition arrived and then Kiff showed again how he’s a secondary tosser so the Wayfarers got the push back.

The game started well, Reading were most definitely up for it, there were a number of early surges from deep despite Lavers continuing to give the ball to the opposition. Hamilton now back up front felt a lot more in control of himself and it was showing as he and Ben Cooke were making the opposition defence look particularly school boy which was interesting as we were playing at the boys school! The pressure was soaked up by the Wayfarers but eventually after a save or two we won a short corner. The Short corner routine team today compromised Kiff injecting to a careful stop by Mike, he was very careful not to use his hand in this integral part of the routine but sometimes he does! The ball was rolled forward a little and Cooke coiled up, started near the half way line and ran in, collected the ball then dragged it goal ward and then POW. The release was firm and directed goal ward but the goalkeeper was standing up and pretty much seemed to be ready to save. The Wayfarers goal keeper put his stick out to save the ball and then similar to one of those movies where the gun is shot out of the guys hand, his stick was directed out of the way by the power of the ball leaving the ball to fly into the goal – YEAAA, 1 -0. Nice goal Cooke. Reading continued to push forward but could not convert the chances, then completely against the run of play the Wayfarers broke through the centre of the pitch, Cabbage was left flailing trying not to foul the opposition, Mike too missed the chance to break down their attack then they pressed into our D. Lavers and Luke were tracking their respective markers but the mass of central force pushed towards Bazza in goal, they managed to pull off a one two in the D around Sam and then around Rob then it ricochet across the goal passed Bazza and one of their players knew nothing about the game but managed to get a stick on the end of it and score the equalising goal. 1 -1. Reading then pushed back at the Wayfarers with heads held high, Luke dispossess his man and then danced around another, he released up to Kiff who coolly passed centrally to Mike and then the drive forward started. Mike pushed up to Ben who continued to make the Wayfarers look very amateur with his stick control and finally the ball released to Babbage who was right at the top of the D with no markers for meters – here we go the defence were willing. There was a good look at where the goal was by Babbage, then he got his body in shape to let his shot off, a controlled wind up and then managing to be almost on the P flick spot, WHAMMOO, but no whammo! He had chosen to use the air turbulence of his massive swing to guide the ball towards the goal but not realised the drag co-efficient of the ball on the turf so the ball moved a mere mm forward! There was then another chance to slap it in but even thought there wasn’t a single defender around him, Cabbage was blown up for hitting the air in a dangerous manner! We were still pushing forward. The next goal game with a majestic run from Cooke, he fooled the opposition on many occasions and then released near the D to Hamilton, the reverse sweep was engaged by Hamilton – the crowd and players were all seriously worried about the parked cars – he turned, got down low and then whack, it was smacking the back board before the goalie could even get his leg out of the way! 2- 1 a convincing lead taken back by Reading. We could have pushed further ahead when again Cooke’s skill bedazzled the opposition and he released Babbage, this time however he managed to connect but straight at the goalkeeper, the deflection came out to Rich who was now in acres of space with what’s commonly known in the trade as; “an open goal” so he opted for the slap (unlike Babbage) but the pressure got to him and he decided to clear it wide at the last minute – There’s no fine for scoring here Rich, it’s not Uni now!

Half Time

The second half started and after a reviving half time talk and some Wine Gums for variety, reading were to push the Wayfarers again. It wasn’t long before the pressure was rewarded with a penalty corner, Daddy Mac was on the sideline keen for his son Will to make an impact, it seemed he may have been suffering from the night before (Will that is) or thinking about the night to come! The short corner flew out then routine Z56FG was deployed – ping to the left of the D from the top and then slap straight back to the right hand side of the D and Will Mac was on point to slap it into the nearly open goal, he decided on the fade away slice to disguise his intentions and it truly worked, the ball hurtled towards the goal at nearly walking pace and this Tom foolery tricked the goal keeper who jumped into the path where he thought it should be and missed it completely 3 – 1 to Reading. We were taking a good hold on the game now despite Babbage starting to suffer a bit, he subbed himself off which was very gallant and meant he could come on hear the end of the match ready again, Ben Cooke continued to cross reverse form the left and undercut from the right needing the goalkeeper to get in the way and the defenders to do the same! Luke stole the ball again from the opposition and delivered towards Kiff – Kiff unleashed a pin point pass to Hamilton who had dragged out wide on the left, the pressure was on the Wayfarers and Rich, and Cooke were hungry for the cross. Hamilton jinked in one defender to the right almost making him fall over then another right shoulder drop and he was into the middle of the pitch with the ball, he wound up (again not using the Babbage school of contacting with the ball) and struck a sweet shot into the corner of the goal 4 -1 up. Good work. We had indeed crushed the opposition with 2 great worked goals and this was visible in their inter team discussions all around the pitch. Mr Downer the umpire was watching on as his end to whistle was under the Reading cosh! The pressure did not manage to result in any goals but on the few occasions that the Bazza goal was aimed at in this half, either Sam or Luke were there to thwart the trouble. As the game wore on our fitness came through but then some concentration dropped whilst up at 4 – 1. About 10 minutes before the end of the game the opposition had managed to force a hit high up on their right wing and we were all marking the respective player. The ball came through a few people into the middle of the pitch towards Lavers and his forward. Lavers planted his feet firmly and awaited the attacking player as “Every player is entitled to their won part of the pitch and no other player can run through that” and then the opposition right wing came in from the P spot and fell at his feet in awe of the second half defending. A second Wayfarers player (not the one on the ground I may add!) started shouting at the umpire (Mr Cooke senior) despite his very solid decision to award a penalty corner which is quite un gentlemanly fashion! We had Rob Farroe on point who is a level 2 umpire and he agreed that it was a penalty corner. As we went to line up, the opposition continued to shout and eventually Mr Downer went to talk to Mr Cooke and made him change his mind so that a penalty stroke was awarded against reading. Rob and Bazza couldn’t have been any closer and knowing them, would have loved to have directly blamed Lavers but agreed that this was an “interesting” decision from a far. Anyhow in hockey – The Umpire is always right so we went off for a quick huddle knowing there was only about 5mins to go. They scored rather a good stroke and the score was now 4 – 2. The final 5 minutes was mainly spent passing the ball around the Reading players as the Wayfarers realised their consolation stroke was all they were going to get and the match was a victorious one at 4 – 2 to Reading 3s. A strong victory to help push up the table.

Good effort all round, thanks go to Mr Downer and Mr Cooke for their umpiring, Daddy Mac for his continued support, the Cross Keys (a finer dining experience) and Babbage for being mentioned 13 times – Unlucky for some over Halloween!

MOM – Mr Ben Cooke

DOD – Mr Babbage (14 your safe!)