Match Report vs South

In The Lord of the Rings or something, there’s a line about how even the smallest can change the course of the future. And so it came to pass that March 1s, rock bottom and relegated three weeks previously, shaped the fortunes of Division 2 North.

30 miles away, Nomads men’s 1s warmed up for our final match of the season at Cambridge South with the knowledge that promotion was out of our hands. Level on points with Sudbury 1s – who had a game in hand – and Norwich Dragons 1s – who travelled to March – but third owing to our weaker goal difference. Ever the optimist, Felix had given us odds of 150 to 1 of going up.

Perhaps already looking forward to the end of the season, Nomads started sluggishly. South moved the ball with pace and directness and created good chances early on. They took the lead midway through the first half when a loose ball in the circle fell to their winger, who had time to pick his spot and fire past Ethan Brown in goal.

We were back on level terms shortly after, Mike Longson putting a drag flick to the keeper’s right. And Mike converted another penalty corner to make it two not long after that. South continued to threaten, though, and they equalized just before half time.

After the break we came out a bit more switched on, but Richard Lloyd’s calls for the side to be more assertive were maybe misinterpreted as first Sam Walker-Farrant, then Felix Polonius and Will Charlton picked up cards for bad tackles. Fortunately we’re a versatile squad and filled in during their absence without problem.

10 minutes from time we got the winner with what Lloydy described as “the only decent bit of hockey played by either side the entire match”. A Felix aerial found James Willington on the left touchline. His mazy run and pass released Alex James, who finished well from the right side of the circle. South didn’t really look like equalizing, and we were able to hold out until the final whistle.

The win took us top for the time being, and we headed to the clubhouse expecting to drop back down to third as other results rolled in. Around 2:30 it emerged that March’s pre-match preparation of getting pissed the night before had worked – they’d held Dragons 2-2 at home, which meant we’d finished second. The Twitter was updated, the beers flowed, and that was that. In a season where we hadn’t spent a single second in the promotion places all year, Dragons somehow managed to stumble at the finish line and we sauntered across in their place.

Next season: Div 1 hockey. Bring it on!