M3: Maidenhead Mystics 2 Reading 2

Last Saturday saw the Men’s 3s travel to Altwood school to take on Maidenhead Mystics, their 2nd XI. After starting 20 minutes late due to Air Ambulance being called for an Astro burn to a knee the game kicked off. With Maidenhead getting the push back Reading did not see the ball for the first 5 minutes which left them chasing shadows.

When we finally got hold of the ball we at time play some reasonable hockey creating quite a few chance which should of seen Reading sail into the lead. Many of these the chances resulted in fence behind the goal taking a pounding and not forgetting Hamilton’s miss from yard out, should of made him DOD.

With Reading missing so many chances saw Maidenhead take lame free hit outside the D, a lamer deflection seeing the goal 1 – 0 up after even lamer goal keeping by Jukes.

2 minute after going 1 -0 down saw a great reaction from Reading with scrappy equaliser from Griffiths. With Reading on the ascendancy they continued to create many more chances which they failed to convert.

Mid-way through the second half saw McCartney win a short corner for Reading. Kimber felt that after his scoring record from short corners that he would take it. With such power saw his drag flick effort dribble in the goal and just about hit the back board. This was his first goal for Reading 2-1 to Reading.

With Reading dropping like flies with 5 out of players injured, which Howells Jnr thought he would point out in expletives, saw Maidenhead come back into the game. After inconsistent umpiring about lifted balls resulting in a free hit to Maidenhead just outside the D which they equalised from making the score 2-2.

Nothing much happened after this except for Babbage going down for second time with cramp, no more boozing on a Friday!

Match verdict is that we are slowly improving with Maidenhead being the best side we have played this season, maybe we might win next week.

Goals: Griffiths, Kimber

MOM: Lavers (Tackle after tackle)

DOD: B Jukes (Watching the ball go through his legs)

Team: B Jukes (Cap) (GK), Lavers, Si Rooke, Hall, Barker, Sa Howells, M Kimber, Babbage, McCartney, Hamilton, Griffiths

Thoughts For Training: Jukes’ goal keeping, Hitting the target and not giving the ball away cheaply

Next games is next Saturday at Sonning Lane at 1500.

Next team social to held at Babbage flat with his new 50″ plasma TV.