Mens 1s vs UEA 1s

The final game of the year for the 1sts was away at UEA, another long drive on a cold day - luckily it wasn't windy or sleeting this time!

Rich Lloyd gave the team strict instructions to get used to the pitch and it's bounciness as UEA had a new pitch laid. The warm up was sharp and crisps showing good signs for start of the game, shots on target and some even going in.

First passage of play opened up Jack 'The poacher' Franklin who seemed to appear from nowhere to repeatedly intercept the ball on the right wing. A couple of times this lead to a break with Martin Hamon and Jack both flying forward. UEA then started to thread a few long passes through the middle and occasionally they had someone control it in our half but to no avail. Jack picked up the once again from an interception and this time threaded a pass through 3 UEA players to find Mike Longson who won a short corner. The previous short corner attempt - slip right 1-2 didn't work out so straight flick was the call. Much to everyones amazement the flick was good. 1-0 Nomads, Mike firing the ball above the backboard.
Next short corner came from similar interplay between Jack and Martin. The flick from Mike was saved this time but he was there for the reverse hit follow up, also saved, and the flick over the keeper, which didn't work and finally the tap into the goal to put Nomads 2-0 up and Mike with 2.

UEA's first short corner came from excellent footballing skills from one of the centre backs. Ball out the top, flick and excellent save from Ethan Brown. The ball unfortunately fall to one of their players who smashed it in from 3 meters out, Dave Watts unable to get the flat stick down fast enough to prevent it from goal in. 2-1 Noteable Rich was not happy about the amount of stick waving the UEA player was doing prior to this shot and was invited on to the pitch by the umpires for a short chat.

UEA then won a short corner Sam Walker-Farrant deciding to target Mattys feet when attempting a clearance. Twin castle set up from the top and straight flick much the same as Nomads first goal apart from this one was really travelling. Matt Voult on the post edging the ball but unable to angle it away from goal. 2-2 and that was the first half.

The second half consisted mostly of Felix 'I can aerial' Polonius sending up countless aerials, some working but the vast majority not working. Matty was genuinely shocked when he passed left to him, unfortunately the past was average and went flying past and off the pitch - along the ground though so every cloud. A few scrappy pieces of play led to one of their forwards with a free shot from the edge of the D which he fired past Ethan, UEA 3-2 up with 15 to go. Shortly after Matty was sent off for hitting the ball away cynically after Will Charlton was baffled by a spinning UEA. Post match teas revealed Matty thought the UEA player headbutted Will - jury still out on this one.

Nick Wells making some excellent tackles in the middle picked up a free ball and fired it out to Jack with a free run on goal, he opted to pass to Rich (who made his cameo for the final 15). The pass was cut out but then promptly rolled into the goal, the umpires had a short discussion and as Jack was in the D it was a goal!!! 3-3 with 10 to go.

The last 10 was very intense, Tom Jarvis showing he is resiliant enough for Div 2 hockey after getting taken out - UEA player getting a green but as he was walking off admitted it should have been a yellow. A few chances for both teams were not converted and the game finished with a draw which was a fair result for a great game. Positive end to the season.

MoM - Mike (for scoring 2) and Tom (for his return to 1s)
DoD - Paul Matthews for missing an open goal in the first half.
Felix Polonius award - Felix for numerous unnecessary aerials!