With wins being less forthcoming than we would have liked this season, it only feels right to put a match report together when they do come as this was a very good team performance. I apologise in advance my capabilities in the divulgence of the English language is not as adept as your usual author but I shall endeavour to do my best.

If the thought of 4pm fixture away to Maidstone on an Astro in the middle of a park, in a housing estate, surrounded by kids on bikes, lit by floodlights rumoured to be occasionally shot out with air rifles, with news of the return of their talismanic bald-headed midfield dynamo and a squad depleted by eight changes from last weekend’s win over Holcombe, doesn’t lead you to think that this wasn’t going to be our day, being 2-0 down to a well drilled Maidstone side in the first 10 minutes probably will.

However, this team is made of sterner stuff than that and through hard work, energy and high-quality passing hockey they turned it around, capitalising on a defensive mistake to reduce the arrears then adding a well taken penalty stroke from eventual hat trick hero Billane – (we thank Arsenal for playing away this week!), they were on level terms by the break. Maidstone on the other hand were crumbling, arguing amongst themselves and relying on individual skill, trying to go it alone to get back into the game.

The message at half time was to keep it up and to their credit the team did just that, adding two quick goals to lead by 4-2. What followed was a solid team defensive performance from the front to the back, every man playing their part, Callum with a number of quality saves, Lushy and Luke solid centrally in defence, Rob Brown stopping all who tried coming through the middle, Dash and Euan’s pace through the middle stretching Maidstone, so a gap opened between their defenders and midfield. All this while Tom, Pete, George and Nick harried the Maidstone defence, not giving them time to dwell on the ball, pressing in a group, allowed by energy constantly being introduced from the bench - this was the hockey we hope to produce every week.

One more game before the Christmas break so hopefully another 3 points at home to K Sports. Thank you as always to Sue Murphy for being our vocal support and for bringing our goalkeeping wall. Thanks as well to the two oppo umpires and for the warm hospitality shown by our hosts in the clubhouse over teas.