31.01.15: This week Mendip welcomed 4th placed South Glos to Norton Hill and what ensued was an honest open contest between two evenly matched teams that like to play attractive expansive hockey.
The hosts had the dream start, going ahead within minutes when a free flowing passing move ripped through the opposition, releasing Will Lawton down the right flank and, finding the back-line he fired a scintillating cross into the D where Josh Sutton ran in to meet it on the move and guide his shot past the keeper.
Any thoughts of an easy afternoon were soon dispelled as the visitors quickly got into their stride, passing the ball around with expeditious accuracy, always appearing to have a spare man in midfield so that, often outnumbered, Josh, Andy Wood and Joe Thacker were made to work extremely hard to close them down.
It wasn’t long before South Glos forced home their advantage, manufacturing a quick skilful move down their right side and a tricky forward evaded several tackles in the D to flick in at the near post. Rich Penn read the danger well and positioned himself in the way to make a challenge but unfortunately could only stop the shot illegally on the line. The Penalty Stroke was dispatched and parity was restored.
The game was ‘nip and tuck’ from then onwards with nothing to choose between the sides. Mendip probably shaded the territorial advantage by pressing higher up the pitch but South Glos looked to hit them on the break and when a forward broke free Leigh Taylor was alert and raced off his line to slide in and quash the threat, sweeping the ball away to safety.
The Mendip front 3 were always dangerous in attack and Steve Smith brought about a superb reflex save from the visiting keeper when his fierce shot looked destined for the top corner only to be parried and cleared.
Chances came and went but Mendip finally broke the status quo from a short corner routine where Oli Beechener expertly used a ‘drag flick’ to find the net and the hosts saw out the remainder of the half to lead 2 – 1 at the break.
In the 2nd half Mendip changed their formation to 4-4-2 to give extra cover in midfield and that appeared to work as the South Glos danger men were forced to pick up possession deeper in their own half and were not so effective going forward. Defensive stalwarts Giles Denning and Rich Penn got to grips with the visitor’s front men and gradually the match turned in Mendip’s favour as they were cool and composed at the back and distributed incisive passes to get things moving in attack. That said, the midfield had become more compact and slightly combative and although Josh and Woody worked hard to create an opening they couldn’t quite deliver the final ball that would yield the definitive goal scoring opportunity.
With the 2nd half having reached somewhat of an impasse, it was left to the young left-back James Lovell to venture forward on a rare foray and as the rapscallion zig-zagged his way through the opposition on an impressive solo run, he reached the D where Oli was on hand to clinically convert and clinch victory with a 3 – 1 score-line.
Now this win consolidates Mendip’s 2nd place in West Central Division 1 but next weekend they have back to back fixtures, visiting Old Bristolians B on the Saturday and then at home to Bristol University C on the Sunday with a 12pm start time at Norton Hill School in Midsomer Norton.
The Team was: Leigh Taylor, Andy Flint, Giles Denning, Rich Penn, James Lovell, Josh Sutton, Joe Thacker, Andy Wood, Will Lawton, Oli Beechener, Liam Young, John Lippiatt and Steve Smith.
Thanks to Carol Holmes and Maureen Mitchell for umpiring.
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