Men's 1s Match Report 12th October

HWHC: 8 vs Bowden: 0

Saturday was the first of the big away trips for the season. Off to Altrincham. I was laughed at, at work, for pronouncing like it is spelt, with a ‘ch’ like cheese. Apparently that wasn’t correct. I tried Al-trin-sham like in ma-ch-ine? No, it seems it should be pronounced more like the ng in sing.

I looked into a few other places up t’North with names that aren't pronounced anything like they are spelt:

Daubhill pronounced Dobble

Beswick pronounced Bezick

Greenacres pronounced Grin-ickers

Hulme pronounced Hewm

And my new favourite, The Haulgh somehow becomes ‘The Hoff’.

Friday night Crowded House played at the O2 and one of the classics they played was ‘Four Seasons in One Day’. I was reminded of this on Saturday when we experienced three of the four in the game, unfortunately none of them was Summer….

With ‘forgotten’ PCD kit, medical bag, and a lost Kiran miraculously arriving together at Bowdon’s ground, the pre-game hospitality from the host club was enjoyed before the pre-game meeting started. Returning to his old club, we had hoped that Ted could lead the way to the away changeroom, however, it seems he’s never ventured to the away changerooms before. Once they were located, the meeting started and the Coach had a clear plan for this opposition. It was a great plan as the game ended 8-0 to H&W. This is the second highest winning margin of the season. OGs have managed a 12-1 and 8-1 but no clean sheet!

Bowdon started well and TRC was called into action in the first quarter with a decisive sliding interception to claim a ball, taking the ball and the striker in the tackle. As a goalkeeper, you really enjoy those saves, probably second to sticking your stick up like a periscope on a PC when Tim GB is flicking and the ball hits the stick (more about that later).

At the very end of the 2nd quarter, Bowdon had two PCs. Both were well saved by TRC. Clean sheet still intact. By this time Matt GB had started the PC masterclass dispatching three flicks into the goal, two flicks past the oppo ‘keeper’s left pad and one past/through the postman.

Beginning of the third quarter, another PC was awarded to H&W. The mind games beagn and Kei tried his best to look like he was going to be flicking from the first castle but by this stage, the oppo were using all their resources to try and stop Matt. Rather than go after the GKs glove side again, Matt took on the postman again who proved to be more successful at saving the ball than the ‘keeper and he managed to steer it past the post.

Ten minutes later another PC was awarded. Again Matt GB lined up on the second castle. The oppo persisted with sending two flyers to close down Matt GB’s options. Surely Matt couldn’t get the ball past two runners again? The oppo were left more confused than a goat on astroturf as the ball went nowhere near the second castle, the two runners couldn’t change their line in time, the postman was in the wrong place and Tim (on the first castle) put an expert flick into the top right of a largely unguarded net.

Another PC followed. Both GBs at the top of the D. Where would this one go? The oppo stuck with the plan, two runners onto Matt. The ball went to Tim again and by this stage, neither the ‘keeper nor the postman seemed to fancy it. In an attempt to get out of the way of the ball, the postman rebounded the ball off his body and into the goal. After a deliberation, by the umpires, the goal was awarded. The third quarter ended soon after.

In the fourth quarter, there were changes afoot. A PC was earned and Ted stepped up to the top of the D. Was Ted going to get a flick into the roof of the net on his return to his old club? Bowdon’s flyers seemed, at this stage to have given up so they wouldn’t run at all. Did it go to Ted? Nope, Tim was going ‘Keeper’s stick side. This was when the keeper opted for the periscope save (luckily there was no lightning. Considering the weather, his stick might have worked as a lightning conductor). To give the ‘keeper credit, he put his stick in the right place to make a great save.

The PC masterclass had ended and H&W had a changed plan. The field goals started. By this stage, it wasn’t just raining H&W PCs, there was actual rain and even hail on the pitch. For the first time, the subs weren’t asking when they could get on, but rather opting for an extra minute of rest to see if the weather eased off a bit. Even if the PC goals were done, the defence wasn’t finished. Tim Cross was unlikely to get a chance to take a PC on the top of the D from the GBs, even if Bowdon had showed that a reverse hit from the top of the D is a decent option. Instead, Tim Cross scored two field goals one in each of the second half quarters.

It was looking like a triumphant day for the defence. 7 goals and a clean sheet! That was until Oatsy stepped in, or rather, slid in with a well taken goal at the back post. Unfortunately, even the opposition videographer had given up at this stage so this goal wasn’t on the live stream. Overall a fantastic score line and a well-executed plan. However, the match objective wasn’t to score 8 goals, it was to concede none. The opposition tried and had a number of shots (5 in total) and 4 were on target. Three of these were great saves by TRC. One of their shots was a decent effort at the post man on a PC and Toby Vaughan made an excellent save off the line, mopping up again.

With three points in the bag and 8 goals, the return trip home on the coach was going to be good fun. I was really pleased to see that these athletes take their hydration seriously. Ashleigh would have been impressed that each player got themselves a 2l bottle of water for the trip back, not just the beers!

Photo: Eva Gilbert Photography 5-10-24