15/11/14: After the previous week’s bruising encounter against table topping Weston-Super-Mare, Mendip had already lost James Lovell and John Lippiatt to serious injury and with two players dropping out on the morning of the match the squad was even further depleted as they travelled to Bruton to play Shepton Mallet.
I’m not sure if it was the early morning start time or the fact it was a local derby, but Mendip appeared edgy from the off and did not settle into any sort of rhythm.
That allowed the hosts to take the initiative during the early exchanges and playing some fast skillful hockey they quickly grew in confidence as they matched Mendip in both possession and territory.
Although not playing at their best, when Mendip upped their tempo and did put a few passes together, they easily carved through the Shepton defence and when Steve Smith finished off a fluent passing move they should really have taken control of the match and pushed on from there. However, they failed to consolidate their advantage and allowed the hosts back into the game with a ‘soft’ goal from a short corner.
Spurred into action Steve single handedly took the attack to the opposition with a shoot on sight policy that saw shots whistling narrowly wide from all angles and with Liam Young and Rich Briscoe joining in the attack, Mendip were unlucky not to go 2 or 3 goals clear.
Steve did convert from a short corner but that all important 3rd goal would just not come and Mendip had to settle for a 2 –1 lead going into the break.
Mendip regrouped and came out in the 2nd half with a much more positive approach but despite spending long spells in the opposition half, were not able to put the game to bed.
Midway through the half Mendip were made to rue their missed chances when Shepton were awarded a short corner and the big centre forward evaded 2 or 3 weak challenges and created space to prod home to level the scores.
The match then opened up with Shepton going on the offensive but the Mendip defence stood firm and when Oli Beechener scored late on Mendip thought they had done enough to see the game out. However, complacency set in and a misplaced pass was intercepted in midfield and for the 3rd time Shepton drew level.
Mendip never gave up hope and there was still time for one last push for the win with a last minute short corner being awarded. Needless to say that man-of-the-match Steve converted for his hat trick and claimed all 3 points.
This was a strange match and although Mendip were never really in any danger of losing, they certainly made very hard work of it and were mightily relieved at the end.
The Team was: Leigh Taylor, Andy Flint, Giles Denning, Paul Floyd, Tim West,
Oli Beechener, Josh Sutton, Andy Wood, Will Lawton, Liam Young, Steve Smith and Rich Briscoe.
Andy Flint
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