Nomads Twos suffer in Cambridge derby

(From young pup reporter, Morty!)

The aeolian remnants of Storm Erik were whistling around the hockey mecca that is the Wilberforce Road University Sports ground. Three Nomads stood shivering on the side of Pitch 1 (there are now 3 of these velvet carpeted things), and at least 15 opposition (Cambridge City).

Eventually a quick phone call revealed 4 or 5 other Nomads to be reclining in the warmth of the changing room, giving each other back-rubs (I don't know this is quite true).

One wonders how we ever actually managed to meet up at a correct time and place before the age of the mobile phone. In fact we don't seem to be able to manage it in the age of it either - as two of our younger members were still missing with the match about to begin.

On a side note, it was probably fortunate that we didn't all realise the pre-match meet to be in the changing room. In what was clearly a City tactic to gain an early psychological edge, they assigned us a changing room in the depths of the Wilby Rd building that was surely only designed for an U11 5-a side team. If both Matthew, and John's kit bag, are squeezed through the door there is no room for anyone else. But fortunately Matthew never makes the pre-match meet/warm-up nonsense anyway, so there was enough room for nearly half a team, and it was warm.

Moving on - with pre-match Nomads rift sorted, and a more healthy 9(!) players present and correct, we moved out on to the hallowed surface for a warm up. Feeling confident in the old adage that a bad dress-rehearsal always delivers a fantastic performance (or something like this) we peeled off the wind-proofing layers, ready for action.

By which time both Matthew and Gianluca had arrived to supplement us up to the normal quota for a game of hockey. Alas no Chris, who having missed his bus, put himself up for an early nomination for DoD, and thus, on arrival, was also dismissed to the naughty step (bench) for the first half. As a booby prize for being second last to the meet , Gianluca got to play at left back.

Despite the not-unusual pre-match chaos, Nomads started distinctly the stronger team, claiming a lot of the early possession and with Gianluca buzzing up and down that left hand touchline, providing plenty of threat, if not many clear cut chances.

City were a bit rattled (so they told me afterwards), and fearing the worst. But it is amazing how 3 quick goals can change the nature of a game. There were clearly some significant threats in the City ranks, especially the Will o' the Wisp bandana kid on their right hand side. He had a stick like a wand, and flight of feet, and we struggled to lay a hand/stick/tackle or even foul on him for much of the game. The closest we got in the 1st half was when Spence hooked his foot as he disappeared in the direction of goal, and he (Spence) was thus dispatched for a few minutes of enforced passivity on the side. Just how does a player of such skill get to play in any 5th XI we asked ourselves? Clearly he either makes enemies easily, or can only play matches a midday, in Cambridge. At least he has played (very well) in both fixtures against us this season.

From one right sided attack a cross was banged in and with attacker pressuring behind, Spence diverted into our goal for a long corner, or so it looked to me. The aforementioned attacker celebrated confidently and a goal was awarded. It was one of those that could have gone either way and desperately hard for an umpire to know exactly who did get stick on ball. So a goal it was.

But things got considerably worse within another 5 minutes as City found better accuracy in their passing, and with skill in and around the D, converted 2 more chances, one of them direct from a short-corner.

So 3-0 down after a promising start wasn't quite what we had hoped for. With their tails now up, City continued to dominate the rest of the 1st half, finding space and passes, and another goal saw us going in 4 down. Oh dear.

The talk in the H-T huddle was around forgetting the score and winning the second half. Nomads came out refreshed and bright. Chris emerged from the naughty step to the booby-prize slot at LB and acquitted himself quite well. The passing throughout the team was a bit crisper and a couple of early chances went agonisingly close. After a promising period for Nomads, one of those things happened that only seems to happen when your luck is out. A ball banged hopefully into our D was met by a first time reverse stick shot that clattered past John into the net. A true 'worldy' that seemed to shock not just us, but the City squad, and not least the scorer himself. Oh well.

The rest of the half was actually a decent game of hockey, open, competitive, fun to play in, and at a decent pace. But alas City finished a further two chances (1 of them another well struck shortie), and we didn't. But there were positives as the ball moved better through midfield, we advanced well from D to D working in triangles, and Chris finally showed us how to tackle the bandana kid (at least 3 times) in a lovely passage of play on the edge of our D and out towards the corner flag.

Other performances to note: Arthur Bad-Back-Meadows managed a whole game and showed some of his legendary long-stick skills, and Max worked really hard on the right of our attack to unsettle City, without his deserved reward. The midfield worked tirelessly to keep us in the game and kick start attacks, and Young Leo at the back continues to look as unruffled and capable at this new level as he did in the 3s.

So, there is plenty to work on, and things to be encouraged by. But, whilst a bit harsh perhaps, a 7-0 final score also tellingly reveals we have to keep possession for longer in games - especially against such talented opponents. It isn't enough to make 2 or 3 passes, we need to be keeping the ball for far longer. See you all at training!