Marching forth

After the disappointment of two closely contested games, lost, against other top 4 teams over the previous 2 Saturdays, Nomads M2s embarked on the cross-Fen trek to March, to meet another team who were riding high with a 100% league record after 6 games.
Historically March 1s have always provided a highly competitive opposition. It is not a place to visit meekly, but somewhere to relish the encounter and give as good as you get. Well, that's the theory.
On paper Nomads looked strong, with a few absentees returning. March started quickly but Nomads defence generally looked in control of proceedings. There was space out there, and as the passing calmed down a bit, Nomads progressed well and engineered chances. Good work from Ali and Lloydy resulted in an early goal for Paul, after a well-crafted build-up.
Please excuse any flawed analysis/commentary here, in the heat of the game I sometimes find my recollection of events is skewed, or even non-existent!
I do know that young-Mort was beginning to make friends all over the pitch, as they followed him round on his extensive travels, always keen to offer advice and guidance. At times he even engaged them in meaningful conversation. This allowed other Nomads to get on with playing hockey, and at some point in the first quarter Nomads took full advantage again, and Mel slotted home neatly to put the visitors into a somewhat unexpected (but merited) 2 goal lead.
A good gaggle of March spectators on the side of (virtually on) the pitch also started to warm to the afternoon's entertainment, and again, show their hospitality to the young Nomads forward (there is only 1) with some encouraging and uplifting banter. Aside from the chat, Nomads continued with some neat play, but as the half wore on March became more of an attacking force, and only a finger-tip save from John prevented a March short-corner flying into the roof of the net, diverting it brilliantly on to crossbar, and safety.
Then the umpire, feeling somewhat left out from all the bonhomie, decided to engage in some of the on-field dialogue, shortly afterwards deciding that young Mort should take a 2 minute breather from all his efforts.
Than, at one point late in the 1st half, young Cotton (anyone under the age of 20 in this team becomes young), decided that the rich entertainment offered up by the protagonists needed something more. It needed a moment of comedy. It needed a moment of slapstick. To the delight of the watching hoards, from far away on the right flank (not sure what he was doing out there to be honest) he launched himself optimistically into, what we assume was going to be, the defence splitting, cross-field pass of the match. Committing himself to the moment he put everything into this pass - flying forward, stick swinging in an immaculate parabola. And nowhere near the ball. The momentum carried him off his feet, into the stratosphere, from where he landed in an undignified tangle of arms and legs. The ball hadn't moved. Ben lay there, spent - possibly shocked by the enormity of what he didn't achieve. The massed ranks on the side were in raptures, but the game, almost apologetically, continued around the stricken lad.
But I digress. And smile.
Nomads emerged to a second half onslaught. March, as we expected, came out fired up. Shots were pinging off posts, pinging off crossbars (again via the touch of our venerable keeper), and Nomads defenders were pulling off heroics. But it could only last so long and the pressure finally told when March finally converted one of their short corners.
With the crowd re-energised, Nomads needed to dig deep. Soaking up pressure, keeping the shape and playing on the break became the order of the day, and in no time at all, good passing out of defence found Lloydy with ball high up the pitch with only a sparse defence for company. He drew one defender, and slipped the pass out of reach of the keeper for Mel to apply a simple finish. Two goal lead restored.
But again came March, with another well-executed short corner. By this point the on-pitch conversations had reached a crescendo, all hilarity and conviviality of course. Even Mel, feeling a bit left out, joined in and brought a fatherly perspective to the situation being stoked up by the youngsters. But young Mort finds it hard to resist a good chat, and, not understanding that sometimes he needs to let others speak, was dispatched once more for a lie-down on the sideline. His new best mate at the heart of the March defence also departed for a bit of down-time on the naughty step.
So for most of the last 10 minutes, Nomads were down to 10 bodies on-pitch. March then pulled another goal back from another short corner. Almost immediately Nomads surged up the pitch, until March gained possession in their backline. But, oh the enthusiasm of youth! Cotton charged towards an isolated defender, in a 1-man press, duly robbed him, progressed to the baseline left-of-goal and, to general amazement, slotted home from an impossible angle, ignoring the expectant (ultimately decoy) run from Lloydy. Fantastic stuff.
There was still time, as March pressed feverishly, for 1 more Nomads breakaway, and a classic Lloyd finish to the far corner. So 5-3 it was. A quality away win to reward a gutsy, committed Nomads effort. Everyone played their part, even the chatty lad up front, who ran them ragged in between chats. But man of the match was shared between Matty (resolute in a great defensive effort) and Ben (great second half , and stirring goal), all in his first full game in our midfield. But front to back everyone did their job, and enjoyed their day.
Back in the mix boys!