Match Report

Match : 2nd XI v Ballynahinch 2nds
Date : 2002-11-09
Venue : A
Score : 0-2
Scorers :

By Stuart Campbell

Phil Irwin, Paul Reid, Niel Johnston, Cookie, Stephen Nicholl, Paul Grant and Aron Young all names missing from the 2nds team sheet this week. Some now regular fixtures in the firsts others injured, going to Kellys or having driving lessons.

The 2nds went to Hinch with a much changed and inexperienced side to play the best that Hinch could offer on the gravel. This was not going to be an easy fixture but with Rambo in midfield and Fraser in nets we still had a chance.

The first half was an even affair with both sides having only half chances. It was end to end stuff and the midfield of both teams ran their heart out. We were starting to play good hockey and began to pressurise the Hinch circle but then disaster. A break down the left and hinch centre forward had a clear shot he was pushed wide but still trickled tha ball towards goal. This should be no problem for a keeper such as Fraser, but the Sieve was back with a vengeance, as he went to kick the ball into the middle of nest week it took a cruel bounce off the "level" gravel pitch and over the kicker and into the unguarded net.

1-0 and unlucky.

Half time arrived and the teams went in with Hinch hanging onto a slender lead.

The secomd half was a much more hard fought affair with tackles going in rashly from both sides. Again both teams had their chances but it as Hinch who took theirs. Good woirk down the right and a ball into the circle left Fraser exposed and their left midfielder (being "marked" by Soupy some 50 yards away ) slotted the ball into the corner. 2-0 and all to do.

The game began to fissle out in the last ten minutes so Soupy decided to liven it up.

A "strange" decision to award Hinch a short corner, resulted in GG discussing the merits of his wisdom with the umpire, Soupy asked GG not to discuss this because it was pointless, Soupy got yellow carded and then red carded for his attempts to curtail arguing with the umpire.

Sometimes there is just no justice.

The game ended with Hinch running out comfortable 2-0 winners.

Thanks to Brian Reid and Mark McDonald for umpiring a half each, even if the other umpire seemed not to totally co-operating at times.(ask McDonald what I mean).

The seconds now have a record of played 7 won 1 lost 6. Completely and utterly unacceptable in any sport in any team.

However it is important not to be too disheartened, in 4 of the games we have lost we could and maybe should have came away with either both or at least a single point.

It is vital that we continue to play good hockey but to get better we must attend training on a regular basis. There is no doubt about it we do need to improve, we will only do this by training every week and playing together every week.

Paul Fraser,
Watson,
Leitch,
Gillespie,
McDonald,
Rambo,
Soupy,
Blair,
B. Reid,
Duffin,
Baird,
Bell,
Hamilton

Scott 'Rambo' Higginson