Worcester 2's take the first league game after Christmas with a 3-0 win

Hampton VS. Worcester
9th Jan 2016
Result 0-3

Worcester in high spirit starting back after the half way mark of the season sitting joint top of the league.

At the meet everyone was keen to see if the skipper Watling had made any changes to his team. The usual crew started to assemble and with a couple of absentees due to injury the team looked very strong and very young with the exception of Hooper (36) and Watling (who looks 37) both bringing the squad average age up.

With a short trip up the motorway the team arrived at the pitch with an air of confidence due to the run of form the 2nds were on. In changing rooms there a brief discussion about positions and Joe Hughes seemed excited at the prospect of playing in another new position for the team, to add to sweeper, CB, CM, RM, LM and CF. Watling had obviously been doing his homework and saw that Joe Hughes would make a fine left back. Joe was heard saying “yes, yes, left back it’s my favorite position….. thanks Watling!”

The line-up was confirmed and the game started with a fairly high tempo Worcester seemed to have the best possession but were quickly reminded that any lapse in concentration could be punished, With a stray pass from the Worcester midfield, Hampton collected the ball and broke in to the Worcester D and with some desperate defending Hampton managed to get a shot away but the on rushing Dalton was able to stop first shot with a quick reaction save with his glove and although the rebound went straight to another Hampton player who was in prime position to score but Dalton pulled off an even better second save and was able to knock ball out to safety. This early scare was mainly due to Worcester creating their own problem with bad pass selection. 3 attempted aerials in the space of 5 minutes which were all collected by the opposition and turned in to attacks. Worcester were able to regroup and take the ball back without too much trouble the Worcester defence did have to face a couple of tame short corners with no real problems.

8 mins in and the arrival of debutant Kieran Shipley on to the pitch had an immediate impact linking 3 quick passes via puggy, Shipley and grant creating a chance that only just missed. This raised the level of all the Worcester players and in quick succession Worcester made a good chance for Sam Glass who was fouled just outside the D and then a fine display of quick hockey ended with the ball crossed from the base line to Ben “puggy” Martin who was 2 yards out from the open goal mouth and with the most simple tap in managed to hit both of his own feet with the ball and then pass it wide of the goal. Moments later Puggy was in the action again and with tireless running on both the right and left side of the pitch was again in perfect position to atone for his previous blooper. Puggy was wide open on the back post and the ball was crossed from Dom Sullivan which the phase “served on a plate” comes to mind, the ball found Puggy and again wide open, a simple tap in was made to look like a very difficult chance and Puggy showed a certain level skill to completely miss the ball. Some say that he only missed the ball as he was busy checking his cook book looking for a recipe due to his earlier open goal miss.

While all this was going on Joe Hughes was proving once again that he was god like (well… like the God Thor) and able to play anywhere on the pitch and whilst playing left back at the same time as moaning about the fact he was playing left back. His face full of thunder he continuously provided a good outlet and linked with Hooper on a number of occasions this overlap proving successful and creating 2 short corners. Unfortunately both short were failed to be converted.

20 mins in and still muttering about playing left back Joe Hughes made a tackle on the edge of his D and then beat the Hampton Midfielder with great skill and telling him on the way past “I hate playing left back” continued his run and freed Dom Sullivan to move the ball around and once again get to the Hampton D each attack was stopped and then turned in to counter attack and the back and forth match continued in this manor for most of the first half. Joe Hughes was very unlucky to receive a 2 minute rest when the umpire judged his tackle to be a bit sticky. Joe Seemed to be happy to get 2 minutes in the midfield albeit stood watching on the side line. 2 more greens were awarded to Worcester for tackles that were misjudged, Hooper and Sam Glass were unlucky although didn’t contest either decision. Each time Worcester were reduced to 10 men they raised their effort and saw out the 2 mins with no problems

Half time 0-0 to Worcester

Watling gave his team talk and highlighted we should be much fitter than our opposition and this would start to tell now in the 2nd half. He also mentioned that the fast passing would open up the spaces for our front 4 to run in to and create the chances. He added that if at all possible could the team not pass to Puggy when he has an open goal as it seemed to be a problem for him and thought it would be cruel for him to miss 4 open goals in a single game. The message on board Worcester came out firing and seemed to find another gear even with the handicapping of being a player down due to more “stick tackles”.

With a sustained period of pressure Worcester had the Hampton boys pinned back in their D and with a series of long corners the pressure was eventually eased off thanks to Ollie Ranscombe going to collect a ball from the behind the goal as he walked over to the ball and stopped to pick it up, his feet didn’t obey his mind and his feet went in different directions as he went to ground a little squeak popped out and with Dalton and Hooper having witness Bambi falling over were in some discomfort due to laughing so much. The Hampton Players were able to take advantage and take the ball back. Puggy was heard saying “thanks Ollie I was defo making a cake until you just did that”

Same Glass decided it was time to make one of his runs where he would beat 3 players and then dispatch the ball home, which he did with style and speed. The ball crashed the back board of the goal and Sam turned and ran 20 yards screaming and shouting come on! COME ON!. As he ran up the touch line raising and waving his arms shouting to the crowd to get them fired up. The rest of the team looked puzzled as only spectator watching the game was not only for Hampton but was on the opposite side of the pitch to where Sam Glass was aiming his battle cry. Even so a good goal and well deserved.

With the game still in the balance but leaning slightly towards Worcester, Hampton started to tackle with more intensity and the game began to be more physical. Worcester players kept there cool and again were unfortunate to receive a soft Green card and a Yellow card that didn’t look like a yellow card (that said I think Joe got his yellow for complaining to umpire that he was playing left back). Worcester maintained their exceptional discipline and excepted every card with no question and a smile. Each time the Worcester players were able to keep the Hampton attack out and stay in control, as soon as Worcester were back up to full strength once again the hockey did talking and another short corner was awarded. Joe Barker stood at the top of the D with Hooper and discussed the play. With everyone set the ball came out and the shot hit the Hampton foot and another corner awarded. Again the play was planned and everyone knew their job. Puggy fired the ball out Joe Barker picked the ball up and decided that everything he had just said was wrong and so beat the first man and fired high in to the goal. 2-0 Worcester.

Now with the game slipping away from the Hampton players the frustration started to show and again became slightly more physical in the tackle the Worcester lads were able to avoid this by playing fast moving hockey but the odd tackle was still getting through and were fortunate not to be down to 10 men more often. This was becoming a trend that Worcester needed to manage which for the most part they did. Hampton did turn over the ball on a fast break and with Hooper tracking back made a clean tackle on the reverse but the Hampton forward tried to charge through the tackle and crashed to the floor taking Hooper with him although ball remained exactly where Hooper had stopped it CLEAN, a yellow card was flashed in the Worcester players direction.

With 8 minutes to go Sam Glass who had been resting his sore throat from his earlier shouting once again picked up the ball and with a nice passing move that involved 5 Worcester players was able to get the ball back on the top of the D to create space and slot home a well taken goal. 3-0 Worcester. Worcester were able to play out the final 8 minutes with 10 men and claim all 3 points and with the final whistle celebrated Royal Rumble style and had a big cuddle.

Worcester were yet again able to see out the game with a clean sheet and take 3 points to keep them at the top of the table and maintain the best defensive record in the league.

Sam Glass was a well-deserved Man of the Match collecting nearly all the votes.

Ollie “Bambi” Ranscombe collected the second best award and is now searching for a recipe.