Nomads Twos - None for ages then three come at once

(From the keyboard of Morty!)

Like the famed London buses, Nomads' short corner routine suddenly delivered in a glut, after hours of non-performance. A firing short-corner routine can make a big difference in any game of hockey, and so it proved against Wisbech on Saturday. Especially when, for a while, it seemed that there had been a decree that returning centre forward, club legend, Rich Lloyd was not permitted to score.

After going behind from an eminently avoidable sequence of defensive gaffes, resulting eventually in a converted Wisbech P-flick, Nomads settled well into a period of possession and dominance. A couple of chances came and went until Lloydy latched onto a rebound in a goalmouth scramble, positioned the ball around the diving keeper and reverse dinked it into the net. With the familiar Shearer-esque celebration in full flow, someone meekly pointed out that a whistle had blown, a split second before the ball hit the backboard. Indeed it had - for a Nomads P-flick, from the challenge on Lloydy. Of course Paul does not turn down an opportunity to get on the score sheet and he was up like a shot to grab the ball and dispatch it straight down the middle, after giving the keeper the eyes. Or something like that. Anyway a goal resulted, and more importantly, to Paul, it was his goal. Shortly after Lloydy deflected a sharp cross into the net, but this time the whistle had blown a couple of seconds previously, for a Nomads corner. Perhaps it was not to be his day in front of goal?

The rest of the half, from fading memory, largely belonged to Nomads. With the Skipper (our designated corner injector for the day) off the pitch after a painful blow, we won a short corner. In an inspired moment, young Leo was summoned from the back, without any practice, to inject. Smooth and accurate as you like, the routine, involving Rick stopping, and 'I'll have a shot' Paul worked a treat and the first straight-strike-goal for many a game resulted from Paul's sweet strike, down the corridor of uncertainty, to the left of the keeper. Leo - you have a job.

Lo and behold another goal followed soon after - a flowing move leaving George with a 1 on 1 with the Wiz keeper. He drew him out and gently lifted the ball (just) over the advancing keeper. Despite him getting something on it, the ball was inching over the line and the despairing lunge from the Wiz defender simply confirmed the goal. Was it an own goal? No - we'll let George have it.

3-1 at half time. More of the same please in the second half. Only, as usual, we then proceeded to stop doing all the things we said we needed to do at half-time, and for a while Wisbech were back in the game, and threatening. Of course we have John. And he expertly repelled just about everything Wisbech threw at us. Until we once again decided to put Rick on the post for a defensive short corner. Resulting in a goal to the opposition. Again. We need to learn from this.

Anyway - luckily by this point the now-purring Nomads own short corner routine, with Leo the catalyst, had delivered again. Once again 'straight-strike-Paul' nailed one inside the left post. 2 in 2. And then, in a completely confusing and unrehearsed routine, Leo showed his flexibility and ingenuity by ignoring (or 'misunderstanding' ) Paul's call, injecting to 'dummy man' Lloydy to the left of the expectant duo of Rick and Paul, and Lloydy somehow found the net from his very own straight-strike. Three in a game. Who knew this was possible? And Lloydy had his first goal, in his first game for the Nomads 2nd XI in, possibly, 20+ years. Good to have you back fella'.

I think that all added up to a 5-2 win for the Nomads, and a familiar continuum of winning comfortably at home. Now we just have to arrest the other habit we have, of losing narrowly away. At Louth this Saturday.

MoM went the to the hardworking Dom, who stood out with some excellent passing in a group of hard working midfielders. Honourable mentions to Spence at the back, and Mikey 'I've done nothing wrong' at Right half for his energetic display. And generally it was a good team performance.

Dork of the Day? Well we forgot to mention the 'Mad man Mel' episode, after an incident which nobody (including umpires) saw, and resulted in a right old flare-up in the Wisbech goal. I learnt some words I had never heard before. But, entertaining though it was, we mustn't condone such behaviour, kids.

And a special mention to dear George. When he wandered on to the pitch as a 8th minute sub, I thought the pitch had been invaded by a random passer-by, out walking his dog or something, in his track-suit trousers and mis-matching shirt. Apparently this week he forgot his socks. SOMEONE GET THAT MAN SOME PROPER KIT..

And finally - massive thanks to our excellent umpires, Hoddo, and the late replacement (for me) - Keith. I especially appreciated you putting your hand up!

Cheers!