Hockey men’s thirds struggle with weakened team

A valiant effort from the Thame Hockey Club’s third men’s team on Saturday, but fates seemed to be against then from the start, when the traffic gods decreed that Tim would be stuck in traffic, meaning that they had to play for the first 15 minutes without a keeper.

Image – library picture

Richard Creswell donned the bib of gullibility and stood in as keeper, only conceding one when the Oxford number 10 burst through and one-on- one smashed a shot at the helpless yellow-bibbed fool in the goal, the back looping off said fool’s stick, over his head and plopping unsatisfactorily over the goal line.

Once Tim arrived, the thirds started playing some nice hockey, but missing several key players to the first and the second teams, inexperience was evident. The arch goal poacher, Harvey Allen, nicked an equaliser after a fine build up of play from Dan Gibney and Ben Caiger. But a penalty corner was conceded after a crunching tackle by the sweeper led to Oxford retaking the lead just before half time.

After a pep talk, the thirds came out all guns blazing, playing the better hockey in the second half. Oxford’s keeper made several memorable saves to keep the thirds out, but it was Oxford who scored two further goals against the run of play to knock the stuffing out of the youthful thirds.

Tom Creswell, the new team captain, showed superb grit and determination to force home a shot after an excellen run down the right wing to make the scoreline a little more respectable. But experience won out overall, and Oxford deserved the win,.  2 – 4

Man of the match – Tom Creswell

Special mentions to Dan Bottomley, playing as right back and having a superb game; Lewis ‘the wasp’ Hall, whose attitude and effort was outstanding and tim roberts, who made some incredible saves, most notably one with his neck!!!

SOURCE: Contributedf