Victory at Richmond

Reading Relics remain joint leaders of the Masters Over 50s London League following a 2 -0 win away this morning at Richmond. Both goals came during a dominant first half performance during which our midfield trio of Bambury, Gregory and Taylor bossed the game as we played excellent passing hockey. The first goal came from a well worked short corner finished by Gavin and the second was an outstanding flowing move from our own D, after defending a short corner, and moving the ball, at pace, up the pitch to set up Barton for a simple finish as the far post.

In the second half Richmond had much more of the game as our legs tired and we became too stretched as a team and failed to maintain our good short passing game; in the end our joint men of the match Jackson, at sweeper, and Hargreaves, in goal, were instrumental in blunting the Richmond threat and keeping a clean sheet. All the defence played well and the win was largely down to their hard work throughout.

A third goal would have made the final 20 minutes easier but we couldn’t quite take our chances to wrap up the game up, but it was good to have a competitive game and 2-0 was a satisfying result.

Sadly the Richmond Polytechnic Sports bar beer was once again dreadful so most of the squad, and some the Richmond team, beat a retreat to Old Station Pub around the corner for much better beer and ambience! Hence two selfies this week.

Well done Ruins (Epsom also won today so the league remains very competitively balanced) – next week there is an O60s game vs Surbiton followed by back to back 05Os vs Tring on Dec 7th and O60s Cup on Dec 8th – so please let Barty know your availability.

Micky