Match Report
Match Report - 26 Sep 2009, Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club Mens 1 beat Ashford 2 (Middlesex)
A&F men's 1's completed a clean sweep of victories in their pre-season warm up games, with an impressive performance against an Ashford side who this season will be playing two leagues above them in the MBBO strain of the South League structure.
Missing a number of their regular defence, A&F had midfielders Jon Attwood and Steve Wicks playing at right and left back respectively. Wicks won the man of the match award for his performance. Hugo McCullogh came in at sweeper, with Dave Jenkins at centre back.
It was the impressive Attwood who pushed forward to set up both the first two goals. Firstly after a good run he cut the ball back into the 'D' where Ian Metcalfe with time aplenty was able to undercut the ball home. Then Attwood fired in a speculative ball into the 'D' and with the Ashford defender bizarrely opting to leave the ball Ian Metcalfe took the gamble and met the ball with a reverse stick glide from close range to double the lead.
Things got even better as livewire Matt deSouza intercepted a stray a ball and knocked the ball back to Ian Metcalfe who played a square ball to Chris Barnes to the top of the 'D'. Midfielder, Barnes whose goals in seasons gone by have been about as common as rocking-horse dung, drilled his shot into the bottom corner!
After this A&F lost their way a little and some Ashford changes boosted their side. They won a penalty flick, which their forward put high and wide over the goal, but after a series of short corners Ashford pulled one back. This spurned A&F back into action and for the remainder of the half looked the dominant force.
Things started well in the second half too with skipper Metcalfe completing a hat-trick after Jack Metcalfe, having a good game as the defensive centre half, found his brother unmarked at the near post, with a turn and clam finish it was 4-1.
Four became five when Matt deSouza rounded the last defender and coolly finished past the oncoming 'keeper at the top of the circle. Ashford pulled one back with a drag flicked corner, but A&F restored their lead when Jack Metcalfe neatly brought down a ball that looped up at a short corner, a decent strike got a deflection from Simon Gillespie on its way in.
Jonny Groves completed the rout finishing cutely inside the near post on the reverse after an excellent ball in from the right from Gillespie.
Ashford 2 (Middlesex) 2 - 7 Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club Mens 1