Redsox leapfrog Southgate

Today the Redsox had a key, but tough, match away to second placed Southgate knowing a win would allow them to leapfrog Southgate and put pressure on league leaders Epson and to the credit of the whole squad we did that in some style.

A young, feisty Southgate team piled on huge pressure with wave after wave of fast and fluid attacks down both flanks and the Redsox defence did very well to allow us to survive the opening 20 minute onslaught only 0-1 down. Just before half time the mercurial Immy ran with the ball from the Reading half and into the Southgate circle to set up a brilliant equaliser to take us into a very unexpected 1-1 half-time score.

With a few tactical Redsox changes at half-time the second half was a completely different game; Redsox took firm control of possession and played the more incisive and threatening hockey, to open up a 5-1 lead before a good short corner strike gave a disheartened Southgate a late consolation second goal.

It was an outstanding team performance led from the back by man-of-match Martin in goal with sweeper Mace literally putting his body on the line for the team along with excellent performances from Lowe, Ashby and Hoops to snuff out Southgate’s attacks.

In centre midfield Gavin played his socks off, Paxo showed real class at right midfield to link much of our attacking play in the second half while Scottish Steve ran well as always at left midfield to snuff out their right side attack until he aggravated a hamstring injury.

Immy enjoyed a more attacking role in the second half and his linkage with “soft hands” Soma was a joy to watch as they jointly demoralised Southgate with a display of touch, control and class in front of gaol. Rowan and Hunty both ran well and deserved their goals.

Thanks again to Mike Gray for umpiring very well in the face of a lot of Southgate chat and Immy’s always helpful observations!

For the record the scorers were:
Immy x2
Soma x1
Hunty x1
Rowan x1

It was a delight to see a somewhat talkative Southgate team increasingly silenced as the game progressed and I suspect they were in disbelief that they had not sown-up the game before half-time. As always the Redsox enjoyed a very social post- match session in the bar, enjoyed particularly by Scottish Steve as we watched the impressive second half of rugby from his countrymen (and unsurprisingly the celebrations continued for some of us, joined by Bartie, back at RHC before the 1st XI EG match).

Thanks to all who made the trip, you delivered brilliantly – we have two matches left in the league and one more win secures us second place and a home draw in the League Cup semi-final - probably against Southgate!

Well done Grand Masters on their win and good luck to the tourists in jersey tomorrow.

Please confirm availability for next two weeks to Bartie.

Micky