Mens 5 vs NPL M1

Hello all,

I’m sure the game was discussed at length over tea, but since I wasn’t there you’ll have to endure another of my gargantuan match reports.

I’m actually more pleased with this performance and result than I have been even over the last few games, because NPL were no mugs and had moments in the game which genuinely tested us. I’m happy to say we passed those tests and put NPL to bed after gradually ramping up our work rate, our pressure and our confidence. 

This was a game where it felt like we chose to win, through a combination of hard work and relentlessness. A strong bench, some lovely possession-based short passing, and some really high quality finishing saw us pull away as time went on, until the game got beyond the oppo.

Special thanks to those who guested for us, and thanks to everyone else for making themselves available and getting this squad to where we want it to be. That is, laying waste to London hockey teams with obscure origins.  

Player performances:

Spike: a relatively peaceful game in a weekend where penalty corners were my absolute nemesis (conceded another three for the 2s later in the day over at Tulse Hill ☹️). Had a couple of fairly routine things but we were comfortable by then. Literally no chance of getting player of the season. 

Rob: thought Rob had a really solid (and I choose that word deliberately) game at CB playing to his strengths: getting in front of players, using strength and speed, and putting pressure on players with their backs to goal. Some of our 16s were so good - direct, confident, and accurate. Most of those went through the Pringulator. 

Dave: 100% won the battle with Baldy Gordon, who he had to go shoulder to shoulder with for the first hour. The fact that Baldy Gordon ended up playing at CB for the last quarter of the game was surely an acceptance of defeat. When the Farmer tells you to “get off my laaand” you better get cracking. 

Maj: another virtually mistake-free showing from ball-bag monitor Maj. Thought he received the ball really well, with good strong positioning and firm hands. Passing was sensible and economical, and that’s exactly what you want when you are trying to build up patiently and with possession.

Matt Bishop: another typically confident, direct and fluid display. When Bish is playing that well I should probably switch from a 442 because you just know he’d devastate that right flank. I can’t remember NPL attacking down that side at all really, whereas Matt’s play direct from our 16s and down our right caused them problems all game. I do believe they were slightly intimidated. 

James Cole: not sure I have the vocabulary to describe Coley’s performance, but it was a mixture of confidence, supreme organisational skills, determination, ability, and taking the game by the scruff of the neck and telling it it’s gonna need to lube up. Totally dominant in every phase. 

Tom: Tom had a sneakily effective game in midfield. With speed and quickness (and I think you’ll find they _are_ different things) to beat every NPL player to the ball, I liked the way he got stuck in, made himself available, and interchanged passes with the wide players. We won the game in those areas, and we wouldn’t have done that without the lad Boydy. 

James: disappointed not to be put at CB 😌 but played such an integral role going forward you can’t blame me for putting him out wide. Once we got on top so much of our play went through James, and that allowed us to put our stamp on the game. Really pleasing to see him on the score sheet again, too. 

Jack Allen: thought Jack really grew into the game: by the last quarter he was the best player on the pitch. Showed creativity and smarts, but also caused all sorts of disruption. There was a period of about 20 minutes where NPL just couldn’t get out of their 16, and most of that was down to Jack anticipating and intercepting. A quality debut. 

Jack Nienow: Jack seems to have found his most effective role, being the target man around the D. Either arriving late or getting set in between the posts, Jack’s positioning was top drawer. Had a ridiculous assist, and with a pinch more sharpness or luck would have bagged a couple of goals himself. 

Alex: the other reason why NPL couldn’t clear their lines, Alex’s running when chasing the ball and in possession of the ball were masterclasses. With his trademark stick skills he set up countless attacks, and the NPL defence couldn’t get near him. Having Scotty in the line up is like bringing a howitzer to a game of conkers. 

Matt Luddington: another ridiculous all-round performance from the Ludster. Combining cerebral and physical hockey, he was a difference maker against a very competent NPL defence. What do I mean by an all-round performance? A ball-winner, a space-maker, a passer, and a finisher. I reckon Luddington was _built_ by the fecking National Physical Laboratory. 

Earl: I’ve got to say, it’s a real education watching guys like Earl coming in to the team. Here is a player who makes hockey look so easy. Finds space, receives a ball, makes a defence splitting pass, we score. Oozed class, bossed the midfield, and unlocked the game for us. Swoonsome hockey.

Rich: absolutely did a job for us. Sometimes when you’ve got a strong squad it still takes superior organisation to lift a performance to where it should be. Wils did that both by example and by leadership in the middle, and by and large kept a lid on NPL’s skill players. 

Matt Breese: the full kit wanker version of Breese Jr appears to be no different to the one we’ve come to expect. Industrious, virtuosic, and energetic, but now in an actual Epsom shirt! With his 67-foot reach, skills cut from the finest oriental silk, and finishing that some say is even better than Breese Snr’s (I know!), Matt was an absolute game changer for us, and was deservedly voted this week’s Men’s 5s MoM. 

So massive congratulations to everyone; you all played your part. We are now six points clear of the team in fifth, and have a goal difference of +25. It’s looking like a four-way race for promotion, and I’m absolutely thrilled that we’re right in amongst it. 

I also just wanted to say that, although the scoreline looks convincing, NPL were not a side to be sniffed at. They’ll win more than they lose I reckon, and that was a game which only ended up being comfortable because we worked damned hard to get on top. And that’s what we’ve got to continue to do if we’re going to carry on winning games. 

We’ve got another week off now but we’re back on November 16th for a HUGE game which will absolutely define this part of our season. OCs are still undefeated, although they’ve had a reasonably easy ride so far in the league. If we can get a squad together that’s strong and deep there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t carry on this run. So for those of you who haven’t done it yet, please get your availability down as soon as you can. This is a _big_ game, and we need to be at full strength. 

Anyway, really well done again everyone for what was a gritty and then fluent performance against a pretty decent NPL side. 

Enjoy the week off,

Spike