Tough Defeat for Men's 1s against top of the league

Match Report Petersfield Men’s 1’s V’s Basingstoke Men’s 2’s
Result Petersfield 1 - Basingstoke 4

Having been undefeated for the first part of the season, it is fair to say the team was defiantly up to keep it that way! So as we made our way to the Basingstoke pitch all thoughts where on winning and continuing to pursue the top of the league spot and promotion.

As the team arrived at the pitch it was most defiantly a crisp Novembers day, as the cold was felt and the thermal layers where applied for the more elderly in the team, Clay, we gathered our thoughts and begin to discuss our plan of attack in the changing room, where our captain Grinstead led with words of wisdom! We where ready and we made our way out to the pitch and began our warm up! We where still a player short, Edwards, maybe he was still in the bath, no he was just late as he rocked up to the pitch!! Now now paddy whats going on with your timings!!

With warm up and drills done we huddle in our group heads and sticks together. We where ready to take on top of the league, we where ready to give them a hard game, and we where ready to continue that unbeaten run! With a final few words from the Captain the roar of 1, 2, 3, FIELD echoed across the pitch.

We started well, there was some good snappy movement of the ball around the pitch and it became very apparent that Basingstoke where a well drilled machine, but a machine that could be beaten if heads where put to it! Petersfield battled hard for the first 25 min as it was very much 50/50 either way for both teams. The ball swayed from side to side as neither team where able to breach the barricade that had been set up! Grey, Grinsted and Hind worked hard in the Midfield as they tried to control the pace of the game, with J. Atkinson, Harris and lane making some good cutting moves through their defence. At the back Hawkins, W Atkins, Clay, Rye, Smith and Marlow battled hard to keep Basingstoke’s front line at bay, but alas Basingstoke managed to find a loose foot in the D and where awarded a penalty corner. As the Smith and the four line up on the goal line, there was apprehension in the air as the corner unfolded. After a well worked corner, the oppo slipped a ball past Smith which was unstoppable, score 0-1. One goal behind was ok, and could be worked back, but unfortunately, within a matter of minuets Basingstoke where awarded another short corner just before the end of the half. Again the tension could be felt as both teams line up for the showdown. As the ball was injected, Marlow and W. Atkins on charged down the stopper, but another well worked corner lead to an angled deflection that caught the defence off foot, again the oppo managed to slip another goal past us to make the score 0-2.

As the team gathered during the half to discuss how to move forward, Grinsted and Harris formulated a plan and heads began to lift, with battle plans in place the team rallied together and shouted their battle cry again, which echoed in the grounds! Petersfield had push back and they went off again into a tough head to head battle. 5 min into the half Clay subbed onto the pitch and was immediately carded for “strong” challenge, 2 min sin bin and Petersfield where to 10 men. As Petersfield played with 10 the still managed hold off Basingstoke. Back to ten men, the ball again was moved well, but never seem to make completion to the front as we where pushed back at each advance. Petersfield battled hard, but to no avail, as Basingstoke caught Petersfield on the counter twice in quick succession where the scored two open play goals within 5 minuets of each other.

Petersfield, now four goals down, needed to find a new gear and start piling the pressure on. Which it indeed happened. Out of no where a new spark and vigor came to the side, a real passion to dig their way out was being seen. It became more apparent to the oppo as Petersfield applied more pressure and press after press. The shots on goal seemed to come one after the other from, Harris, J. Atkinson, Lane and Grey but nothing seemed to stick. Posts got hit, goal line saves, decisions not going our way. We finally managed to win 2 short corners, but unfortunately where unable to convert the opportunity, with Harris coming close to a superb deflection which was picked, and Grey with shot that just whistled past stick and post!

The break through came to late though, with 10min left on the clock, Atkinson linked up with Harris and managed to score another blinder of a goal. As he worked his way through the D from a well weighted ball from Harris, Atkinson brought the ball to his left side, drew Thor’s hammer and tomahawked the ball into the top right of the goal. The keeper didn’t see it coming. Unfortunately it was to little to late for the team, although the stepped up their game it was not enough in the end. The final whistle blew and the team where unable to keep their defeated run going.

A tough start to the season with the top 5 teams being played, there are lessons to learned from the weekend, but defiantly not to dwell upon!!! Let look forward to next week as the teams faces Southampton Uni 2’s at home and hope they get back to winning ways!!

Team:
D Grinsted (C), T Clay (VC), A Smith (GK), M Rye, S Marlow, L Hawkins, W Atkinson, H Hind, N Grey, C Hall, P Edwards, J Atkinson, L Harris, P Lane

MOM: Nial Grey
DOD: T Clay
Champaign Moment: J Atkinson for another Thor’s Hammer Goal.