Nomads Twos outdo Peterborough 4-1

Nomads travelled to Peterborough looking to terminate the run of four defeats before the break. Without a friendly last weekend, it was some 6 weeks (plus Christmas!) between the last game of competitive hockey.

From the outset, Nomads took the match by the scruff of the neck and Boro's attacks rarely reached our 23m line. Within 10 minutes, we won a short corner: Wattsy injected, Dave stopped and Arthur clonked the backboards inside the left post.

Five minutes later, Sugi received the ball in the D and surged towards the backline dragging the defence and the goal-keeper towards him. He slotted the ball past all of them to find Arthur with an easy 4 yard tap-in.

Tom, who overall had an excellent game at right back, intercepted a pass near Boro's 25m line. He passed the ball perfectly to Arthur's reverse stick at the top of the D. Arthur rounded the goal-keeper and, although the shot was topped, it was too difficult for the defender to stop - Arthur's first hattrick in many a season!

Peterborough's attack started to pass amongst themselves more accurately, yet Nomads' defensive unit, in general, picked apart any threat. On occasions, Barry handed out his trade-marked demonstration of patient ball control surrounded by attackers. Sadly, Peterborough pulled one back, blotting the prospect of a clean sheet.

The second half second was deadlocked - opportunities fell to Thom and to others but Sugi came closest by shooting past the keeper, knocking the outside of the right post. Nomads' final goal came from open play. Moots picked up the ball in the D during a period of sustained pressure. His flick was stopped by the final defender's foot. A minor melee ensued to grab the ball for the penalty flick. Spence was there first and duly dispatched to make the final 4-1, which moves the Twos comprehensively out of the grips of the relegation zone (see link).