The 2’s take on South Nottingham

Dick of the Day was unanimously awarded before the game even started as John managed to get himself lost in the leisure centre car park and then to make matters worse had turned in up in his home red kit and ended up playing in blue.

The kaleidoscope continued throughout the game with a plethora of green and yellow cards being handed out to both sides.

South Notts started strongly forcing X to make 3 or 4 saves in the first couple of minutes; however it was the 2’s who opened the scoring with a lovely worked goal scored by Nick at the 3 minute mark. Sadly we weren’t able to hang with on to the lead with South Notts equalising at 5 minutes.

The first half was a mixed bag for the battling 2’s, there were spells of superb fluid hockey where we looked the far better team but sadly this was interspersed with bouts of really scrappy hockey that gave South Notts too many opportunities.

Both teams had a number of opportunities in the first half but neither were able to successfully convert their efforts in to a goal with the first half ended 1-1.

A refocusing chat at half time from Dave and Riddles set the tone for the second half and it only took a couple of minutes for the 2s to retake the lead, with John making it 2-1 at 37 minutes. The 2’s only managed to hold on to the lead for 3 minutes, with South Notts drawing level again at 40 minutes.

The 2’s won a penalty corner at 42 minutes which South Notts managed to turnover, catching the 2’s rby surprise, heading straight into our D with a 4 on 2 overload, X made the first save and a resultant scramble in front of his net saw one South Notts player holding his stick and another hooking his pads to stop him from moving, bizarrely the umpire let play continue and in an attempt to stop a shot Dave managed to put the ball into our own net making it 3-2 to South Notts.

The umpires refused to hear our protests and instead handed Dave a yellow card for dissent.

A penalty corner for the 2’s at 45 minutes resulted in a lovely flick from Big Lou straight in to the top corner of the South Notts net, sadly the South Notts umpires waived the goal off saying that it was a hit rather than a flick; but It wouldn’t stay 3-2 for long, just three minutes later John buried the ball in to the back to the South Notts net making it 3-3. Another penalty corner for the 2s at 50 minutes and a sublime drag flick from Rad saw the 2’s retake the lead.

South Notts continued to press and won a penalty corner at 54 minutes which they managed to convert, again the score line was tied. Two more penalty corners went South Notts’ way but both were denied by X, a full leg extension stopping the first and the second a stick save from behind while in the splits.

The 2’s won a late penalty corner with just a couple of minutes to go but we’re unable to find the back of the South Notts goal.

Final score 4-4.

Honourable mentions:
Dave for his own goal and pair of cards

Dick of the Day:
John for turning up to an away game in your home kit

Man of the Match:
X

Next weeks’ game Beeston 5’s at home.