So, the league fixtures start back with Tower Hamlets away. A fixture that has hung heavy, can I get 11 bodies willing to travel to Stratford for a ridiculous 5pm start? Well yes. Thank you to everyone that made it – appreciated. Tower Hamlets are 100% a clean slate all wins and no defeats.

Tower Hamlets are in the small group of two clubs* that have completely opposite aims and objectives to ourselves. Everyone wants something different from the enterprise of playing Div 8SE hockey. We want to enjoy it, bring on youth, give them a grounding for adult hockey at a higher level and finish mid table. Tower Hamlets have loftier ambitions then want to take this team through to SE domination. These games are difficult when teams with divergent aims and objectives meet. We are an annoyance to them and they are a pain in the backside to us but somehow, we must tiptoe through and get to the other side. They’ll get their three points can we come up with any crumbs of positivity.

My way round this problem in both our matches has been a deep defensive half court press. Play a different system gives the team some decent learning points and should in theory keep us from humiliation in terms of score line. Having got the other side, I certainly wouldn’t be looking to change anything. We went in with an ultra-defensive system. We had zero interest when they had the ball in their half let them have it. Even when we had our bits of possession in their half I wasn’t all that keen to send to many up – constantly afraid of being countered on quickly. Bit wimpy, bit weak perhaps. But so what? It’s my way of getting something positive out of the event.

A solid four-man defence with all told to stay back don’t even think about venturing forward. A five-man midfield fighting fires and trying to guide play into areas we’d prefer the play to be in. One loner up front trying to do whatever they can. Jose Mourinho would be very proud. Not just a couple of buses. 11 double deckers. Not parked but positioned, wheels removed and keys thrown away. It wasn’t pretty, and I guess you can look at the headline score and say it wasn’t effective either. But I would have to disagree.

I was delighted with the attitude, the work rate and application of my team. I can’t fault anyone. Owen excellent in goal, Carter continues his upward curve and not easy to play seeing his Dad going to the hospital early on (more on that later). Jack solid. Frank and Harry Lewis determined in midfield, Shae getting stuck in and Brady never backing out of the battle despite taking a nasty knock early on. Stephen Brown, Harry Strickland, Brady Doyle and Simon Hill took it in turns to plough the lone furrow up front. All brought something different to the party but all can be proud of their work. Thomas Anderson showed great stamina and Paul Colman stepped up when called upon when required when Tretty left the game. So onto that. It’s never good when playing hockey for your hobby impacts on your day to day life. But the severity of Tretty’s injury is such that this is where we find ourselves. Multiple fractures across hand/thumb joint which will require surgery. Sustained when blocking a shot from a short corner at close range. It seems trite to say it but get well soon.

There’s so much to admire about Tower Hamlets. They are working to bring on youth and the quality of their hockey is at times exceptional. If you can take some time from the assault there is plenty to learn as the opposition. The ball is moved quickly to willing runners. The problem is that there is a core with the team aren’t happy to simply win. They want to humiliate you. This group has played for too long at this level. The winning bit is just too easy – the challenge becomes the next level that some have created for themselves. I think I could enjoy the trip to play this team if it came without that added extra. From a purely hockey point of view they win in style. The next step would be to win with class.

Team: Owen Smith, Thomas Anderson, Carter Trett, Richard Trett, Jack Payton, Harry Lewis, Shae Nelder, Stephen Brown, Brady Doyle, Gary MacDonnell, Harry Strickland, Simon Hill, Frank Lewis, Paul Colman

Man of the Match: Harry Lewis

*The other team in the group is Romford.