Nomads Twos suffer a soaking but manage to hold their head high above the water

Nomads went north on Saturday with 11 men to Spalding - some new faces in the team. The rain started the minute we arrived in Spalding and didn't ease until we had crossed the border back into Cambridgeshire.

The game started brightly for Nomads, as we secured a penalty corner. Jack injected with Pete stopping and Arthur struck the ball well. The defenders appeared to part and the ball clattered firmly against the back boards unscathed. 1-0 - almost unbelievably!

Spalding came back into the game and put three into the back of our goal by half time. In the second half, the rain had upped its tempo, but pitch remained playable with players from both sides enjoying the ability to slide. Nomads' third short corner of the game was a classic set piece - Arthur from the top of the D, pushed the ball back to Jack as the incoming injector. A delicate little tip from his reverse stick deflected the ball past the goal keeper and the defenders.

In the meantime, Spalding had put another couple of well worked manoeuveres together resulting in scores.

The third Nomads goal was another classic. Arthur from outside the 15m circle on the right hand side, saw Sam hovering on the back post. He blasted the ball through a melee of players in the D and Sam was in the perfect place a couple of steps off his man and competently slotted the ball into the back of the goal.

The end result was 6-3, but some excellent hockey was played and it was good to demonstrate our goal scoring ability. Oli Wheatley & Rich Morgan rapidly demonstrated their ability and became the strong spine of the Nomads side. Ethan Brown also put in a competent display in between the sticks. It was particularly pleasing to see Martin and Sam playing a much stronger role in the second half - hunting and harrying for the ball.

Soaked though, Nomads trudged off to the spartan changing rooms / portacabins only to find that the electricity had failed - no lights or showers. Fortunately, the teas were heartily - and filling for the long, if slightly oderous, journey home.