8.02.15: For the 2nd time in 24 hours Mendip took their match down to the wire as they played hosts to Bristol University in front of a large partisan crowd at Norton Hill School on Sunday.
Mendip came out of the blocks quickly and showed real intent, playing high tempo hockey and immediately putting the visitors on the back foot, winning a short corner in the opening minutes. However, from then on it was all Bristol as they moved the ball around with speed and precision, mixing quick passing with skilful dribbling to cause Mendip problems all over the pitch.
Andy Wood, Josh Sutton and Will Lawton always appeared to be out numbered in the centre of the park and were constantly chasing shadows but all 3 gave thoroughly disciplined performance and closed down superbly so the students did not have it all their own way.
Despite Bristol having the lion share of possession Mendip still looked dangerous going forward with John Lippiatt and Steve Smith making their presence felt up front and eventually their persistence paid off when midway through the half John opened the scoring from a short corner, forcing home from close range following a goal mouth melee.
Bristol continued to pour on the pressure with wave after wave of attacks but on the whole Mendip kept them at arms length, defending resiliently inside their own 23m line. However, finally the intense pressure reaped its reward when the students won their 1st short corner of the match and levelled the score with a well worked routine ending in a crisp shot that gave Leigh Taylor no chance.
Throughout the remainder of the half Mendip concentrated on defending as a tight cohesive unit and although the front 2 continued to work tirelessly to create an opening, goal chances were increasingly harder to come by as the hosts were stifled in midfield. Neither side was able to increase their lead and half time arrived with honours even.
Coming out into the 2nd half Mendip took the bold decision to pack the midfield, introducing Keelan Shearn into the action with Steve dropping deeper and playing John as a lone striker up front. This was a gamble that did not immediately pay off and Mendip seemed to lose some of their impetus going forward, whilst Bristol continued to play with their indomitable flair.
The pace of the match was relentless and Mendip had to draw on all their reserves of energy as they closed ranks to repel the persistent attacks. The longer the half went on Bristol looked the more likely to score but James Lovell tackled his heart out, Tim West and Giles Denning were rock solid in the centre of defence and even Andy Flint, the veteran right back had one of his better games in a yellow shirt, to shut them out and ensure the match still hung in the balance going into the final quarter.
At times Mendip did ride their luck and late in the half Bristol came desperately close to scoring with the ball whistling past the post but perhaps Mendip earned their good fortune for sheer tenacity and endeavour. The midfield ran their socks off but when in possession still had enough quality to have a go at the opposition with dribbling skills of their own and with 2 minutes left on the clock they broke forward and forced an error in the D to win a priceless short corner. John converted to bag his brace with a last gasp winner.
This win keeps Mendip in 2nd place but there is now clear daylight between them and the chasing pack.
The Team was: Leigh Taylor, Andy Flint, Giles Denning, Tim West, James Lovell, Josh Sutton, Andy Wood, Will Lawton, Keelan Shearn, John Lippiatt, Steve Smith, James England & Liam Young.
Thanks to Paul Woolway and Vicky Parfitt for umpiring.
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