As some may know, I’m not one to get into the technicalities of hockey. Blame that on Cameron Hunter and my left-half upbringing. However I do know how to read a Sportingpulse ladder and I have a good grasp of the difference between 3, 1 or 0 points. So approaching our match against top of ladder Waverley (on 16 points) and with the knowledge that there was only 2 points between us in 3rd place (on 14pts) and Altona in 6th (12pts), I could get my head around the fact that while a win could put us in 1st or 2nd, a loss could very well see us in 6th. Simple maths really.
But hockey is not that simple. The Pennant A team has been at times both brilliant and lacklustre this season. A fact Shannon and Mitch reminded us before the game, as any lacklustre moments would cost us against quality opponents like Waverley. The old timers in this team of youngsters know how hard you have to work against Waverley. We just hoped that everyone was switched on.
A few minutes into the first half at the Hockey Centre and it was clear that we may not have been. Waverley dominated the play and our defence were constantly on the back foot and really struggling to hit targets. Within a short amount of time we were 2 goals down and it looked like being a long, long day. Shannon made some changes down back to try and halt the onslaught and while Paul and Ed worked hard defensively, we were soon down another goal to 3-0.
There may have been a little light at the end of the tunnel, however, as the team kept working and finally broke through for a goal before half time. At the break, Shannon pointed out our lack of intensity and how we weren’t playing to any of our team goals. One big word down the side of the whiteboard said it all – “ENERGY”. All of a sudden the team started to step up a gear. We were still under tremendous pressure in defence, but we were composed with our clearances and the forwards were working hard to get in front. Strangely enough, when you do the simple things you get the rewards. Our rewards started to come. We snagged the first goal of the 2nd half and the momentum of the game started coming our way.
The equaliser followed with Vaughan stripping Waverley of the ball in the midfield and throwing a long ball to Lachy who caught the Waverley defence napping (I can’t remember who scored the goal in the end, but it was a classy play). Waverley started arguing with the umpires and in the meantime Paul slotted a PC over the keeper’s pads. 4-3 up and 16 minutes to go in what was a remarkable turnaround.
Waverley was persistent, however, and kept our defence busy. Ed made some cracking saves and Dan in his Pennant A debut showed maturity at full back. The team pushed even harder and sealed the deal with our 5th straight goal with 10 minutes to go. Waverley received a red card for their troubles and looked beaten. We held off any challenge in the last few minutes and celebrated an extremely satisfying 5-3 victory. Many of us (coach included) wandered off the field in shock at what we had achieved, however we still belted out the song loudly and go into the second half of the season in 2nd spot. Rewards for a fantastic team effort and proof that anything can happen in a half of hockey.
Sorry to the goal scorers for not naming them, as it’s hard to see from Left Half. They know who they are and I’m sure will tell everyone anyway!
Davo
