Fine win for Redsox

Last minute changes resulted in the Redsox starting with a squad 12 which threatened to be insufficient against a fast and feisty young Spencer squad of 14 players. However, the wily experience of the whole squad and the added class of Thompson, Sharpe and Singh helped the Redsox to a fine win.

Ben opened our scoring with a sublime solo effort finished off with a very un-Redsox reverse-stick rocket from the top of the circle. Spencer then began to run us hard and equalised with a well struck short corner. A dramatic and dangerously close lightning strike and torrential rain shower forced the umpires to stop the game as we ran for cover after 15 minutes, giving our defence a much-appreciated breather.

Our wily manager Trevor Jones decided to make the only change available and brought on the skipper and told him to play high in attack, within a minute of the restart a sweetly hit cross from Ben S to the far post saw Denehy dive full length and manage to steer a reverse stick deflection into the net (just as he was about to start the Redsox customary celebratory dance he noticed one finger was pointing in completely wrong direction and headed instead to the Royal Berks A&E driven by the Redsox wily ambulance driver, Trevor Jones…thank you, Trevor, you are an angel!).

While Micky was getting his dislocated finger sorted the Redsox went onto an excellent win (helped by the timely but unexpected arrival of Chris Wright from a previous game).

Ben Sharpe scored a second and Soma claimed a hat-trick, mainly assisted by Rob T who managed our short corner routine to great effect. Feedback from various players make it clear that, in addition to the above mentioned goal scorers, tireless work from the two Steves (South African and Scottish) in midfield, plus excellent shepherding of a young attack by our gracefully aging defence, mainly kept Spencer at bay and allowed the Redsox forwards the room to create short corners, score regularly and secure a fine win.

Thanks to Mike Gray for umpiring through wind and rain, Trevor for managing and ambulance duties and to the whole squad for rallying to teach Spencer a good lesson about Vets hockey!