Twos blitzkrieg March to win 4-2

The Twos visited March with a team that was significantly changed from the bumper crop of availability last week. Nomads started poorly - the first five minutes were full of weak first touches, questionable choice of passes and sloppy execution needlessly exposed Nomads D. Ethan's firm left boot and a tongue lashing from Barry distilled the required level of earnestness in all areas of the field!

However, the first half saw Nomads put four past a March defense that was unusually weak at the back. Garth Hanlon scored a goal from open play, receiving the ball in the D after a series of good maneuvers on the left hand side and sublimely slotting it into the back of the net to the goal keeper's left. The Nomads back four, the 'Maginot Line', of Hodo, Barry, Mike and Rich parried everything that March could throw at our defense and served the attacking line-up beautifully. Arthur found the backboards from a shot from the top of the D.

Nomads third goal and Garth's second came from Arthur pouncing on a March defensive error at the top of the D, committing the keeper and making a quazi shot-cum-pass at goal. Fortunately Garth got to the ball first and made no mistake. In between times, Nomads' concentration slipped for five minutes allowing March to score.

Martin Hamon had a zany 5 minute period during which he continually turned his man inside out and weaved through March's defense. One effort resulted in a short corner and the other was a reverse stick strike from the top of the D.

Nomads final goal came from more of Martin's good work in the 25 yard area which found Arthur waiting at the top of the D. The March goalkeeper, as Ethan described it, whose preferred sport must have been cricket, knelt down in a long barrow position. The ball deflected off his knee pads at 45 degrees and trickled (pleasingly!) over the line. An imperious 4-1 at half-time.

The second half was a much more even affair with March seemingly getting their act together. Indeed March claimed the only goal of the half which came as a result of a March cross which Mikey had no option but to stop but unfortunately it landed in the path of the oncoming attacker who slotted it to his team mate to convert. However, by that stage, Nomads had done enough to brace the tape and ran out 4-2 winners lifting them off the bottom of the table!

With thanks, we owe a debt of gratitude to Seth who, at short notice, was prepared to drive to March and umpire as our opposition were unable to provide a second umpire as they had intended. Speedy recovery to Rich who got a ball on the knee three quarters the way through, but 'manned up' as we had no spares on the side line.