M6 vs St Neots M3

Goal scorers: Nigel Anns, Nigel Gadsby, Stephen Graves

Men of the Match : Thomas H, Thomas L

A top of the table clash for the men’s 6th team (ok, only two games in, but you have to enjoy top spot when you can) against an undefeated St Neots M3 side.

Both teams played some entertaining hockey but it was the City M6s that scored first. Following some nice attacking play, Nigel “twinkle toes” Anns evaded two defenders with some neat stick control to score nicely past the opposition keeper.

St Neots sat back, waiting to hit City on the break but several attempts at doing so were thwarted by a strong defensive unit comprising: Tim “I hate playing left half, it’s boring” Willan, Nigel “I must shout more” Gadsby, Thomas (bags of energy) Hensman and Simon “I can’t believe I lasted the whole game” Aldous.

When the defence was breached, young stand-in keeper Michael Vasekin made some great saves. It was noted that he was not nearly as critical of his defence as the usual M6 keeper! The St Neots side were being pushed back by creative midfield play from Tim Ireland and Stephen Graves and the tireless running of Cammy Small and the slightly less tireless running of Geoff Gibbs and Bill Davidson.

A second city goal came from a tried and tested short corner routine with injection from Graves, stopped by Anns and a very powerful hit form Gadsby. The terrific link up play on the right between the two Thomas’s was also causing the opposition problems. This attacking team play caused several fouls to be conceded by the opposition with Cammy Small and Thomas Liley both being flattened (extra points to those two for being tripped, rolling and getting up all in one motion).

City scored a 3rd goal from a well-rehearsed (NOT) short corner routine that was cleverly finished off by Stephen Graves. Towards the end of the second half, searching for a 4th goal, Cammy took on what seemed like the entire St Neots defence but by the time the rest of his team mates could catch up to help him out the ball was cleared…..team fitness training sessions required?

Being the gentlemen they are and not wanting to look too imperious, the M6’s conceded a well worked St Neots goal towards the end of the game to leave the final score a respectable 3-1 victory for City. Next week the M6s travel to second placed Nomads for another "six pointer".