Match Report

Match : 3rd XI v Instonians 6ths
Date : 2002-02-22
Venue : A
Score : 6-1
Scorers : Johnson(3), Swann(2), Baird

By 3rd XI Captain

Twas a dark and stormy night and the rain (and some snow) came down in torrents and the captain said to the team "come forth - but they came first (for a change).

All in all an impressive performance by the thirds. The first goal by Baird in the 5th minute was a foretaste of things to come and from that moment on the team never looked like losing. Stephen Swann was unlucky when he hit the post with an impressive flick and Eddie Baird was guilty of missing an open goal as was Neil Johnson. Neil got his reward soon enough, however, when a pin-point pass from Swann unlocked the Inst defence. One on one on the 'keeper, Johnson made no mistake. A second for Johnson soon followed...

The dazzling work of Swann as centre-forward was rewarded with a goal mid-way through the first half and Johnson wrapped up an impressive first 35 minutes with his hat-trick.

After the break Inst came back into the game and with an impressive breakaway scored easily after 10 minutes. Their game did not really relate to the score line. They played some impressive hockey but were unable to turn good moves and excellent passing from the back and centre into scoring chances.

East Antrim were not able to make the same inroads in the second half and it was left to Stephen Swann to add the only goal of the half, with a blistering thunderbolt from an acute angle. The hat-trick never materialised, however, as easier chances were squandered, not once... not even twice... but three times.

If one has to pick a man of the match it must be Neil for his hat trick and captaining on an awful night.

Congratulations to everybody else for being there and Ivan for wearing a really sexy thermal top under his shirt.

My Thanks to Rambo for Umpiring (on his own)

Big Paul
Oul Boy Jim
Davey D
Davey M
Dinger
'Billy'
JG
The Grim Reaper
Jonty
The Tres.
Eddie
Simply The Best

Neil Johnson