Surbiton Sparks 1 - 2 THD W2
Saturday 9 December 2023
Surbiton Sparks
Match Report
The W2s have had a fabulous first half of the season but if there is something the W2s want more than winning the league it is TEAM OF THE WEEK! Our 8-1 demolition of Wayfarers was outdone by our W7s coming back from a 0-5 half time score with only 9 players and our 7-2 thrashing of Old Kingstonians topped by M7s first ever league win. But this week, by beating the top of the league Surbiton away, surely we would have a chance...!
Saturday nerves were high knowing it would be a tough game against top of the league Surbiton Sparks. A brilliant warm up showing we were ready to start strong, maybe too much for some…..
It only took 5 minutes for things to turn with a penalty corner to Sparks. It was brilliantly defended however our number 1 runner Kate didn’t want to run 1. It didn’t take long to find out why…. Kate slowly subbed off. It was a solid 5 minutes but a costly loss!
Shorty after, our top goal scorer, Em, scored a lovely goal from a bit of chaos in the D and pinched the final touch to give THD the lead! What we didn’t realise was the hard part was yet to come.
Holding the lead would be tough and yet there is so much more action yet to come. Some beautiful press work leading to lots of turn over and chances to score. Unfortunately Sparks goalkeeper was difficult to beat. Ha, but we brought our own top of the line goalkeeper Dora! Making amazing saves left, right and centre. Talking about amazing saves a special mention goes out to Georgie making a brilliant goal line save….. with her body, Dora must have inspired you!
Not long before halftime Sparks equalised. This caused a moment of panic but we quickly calmed down knowing business had to be done. All this before halftime - surely it would be smooth sailing after the halftime team talk? Boy was that not the case!
It was a tough second half, if we were to come out on top we had to stay strong at the back. Big shout out to our amazing captain Kat setting the standard and the rest followed by example.
Not long after playing some tough back and forth hockey a penalty corner was awarded. The first routine didn’t quite work out but a second chance was given. After the beginnings of a well worked routine it descended to chaos. Em decided to take matters into her own hands and use her backside to push the oppo out the way sent a lovely pass across to Lizzie on the back post who calmly slotted it in the back of the net!
We may have been in the lead but there was still a long journey left with a little more drama. With 15 minutes left on the clock we lost another player! Alice after making some amazing steals showing the rest how to get the ball, suddenly twinged her back. This was devastating news!
Even with so much drama losing players, the next 10 minutes was relatively calm in comparison. Where it picked up again was Dan’s decision to go into half court to close out the game. After a few weeks of work on the press it was now or never! The rest is history! We won! We beat top of the league!!! A brilliant display of hockey all round.
Written by Dan Rose (W2 Coach)