Match Report

Match : 1st XI v Crossgar
Date : 2002-10-12
Venue : A
Score : 0-3
Scorers :

By Alan Burgess

I absolutley hate losing to Crossgar, it simply should not happen. We have all been playing hockey long enough to know what to expect when we go to Crossgar, we know they play on gravel, we know there is never umpires when you go to Crossgar, we know the tackles will be hard, we know it will be a battle. You would think knowing all these things we would be prepared and ready for it but no, what do we do? We let them intimidate us, we bottle out of 50-50 challanges, players go into tackles with their eyes shut, how the hell are you going to win the ball with your eyes shut? Why was a Crossgar player first to every ball? The answer is simple, DESIRE. Crossgar wanted to win the game, they wanted the points. Some East Antrim players wanted to get off the pitch as quickly as possible, wanted to get home without getting a wee bruise.
It's no good moaning about the playing surface, every team in our league has to go and play on it, it is no good moaning about the umpiring or lack of it, every team in our league has to put up with it, we have to get stuck in and fight for the points, no team is going to give you the points, you have to earn them and on Saturday we got exactly what we deserved - NOTHING.