16.12.09 - Foresters Exact Revenge for Opening Day Defeat
The Christmas Festivities were in danger of starting early courtesy of
an invitation to partake of some pre match mulled wine, an invitation
which was gladly accepted by some of the non driving Foresters.
The frozen cockles of their hearts having been duly warmed up, the
Foresters took to the field and within two minutes Jamie Monteith had
finished off a fine move to open the scoring from close range (0 – 1).
Note to self – remember to include mulled wine in all future match warm ups…………
The liquid start to the game seemed to inspire the Foresters as Sam
Spencer then put a good scoring opportunity wide on six minutes. The
home side, clearly taken aback by this festive ingratitude by their
visitors then started putting together some confident passing movements and retaining possession of the ball for substantial periods of time as they tried to force their way back into the match. This pressure won St Albans a brace of short corners which were beaten out by the Foresters defence, but the pressure finally told on 23 minutes as the home side equalised (1 – 1).
Parity did not last long as Skipper Ed Tudor capped off a fine Sam
Spencer run to put his side back in the lead with his long awaited
first goal of the season (1 – 2). Ed Tudor was then unlucky five
minutes later to see another effort rebound off the post back into play.
The Foresters then won their first short corner on 33 minutes only to
see that effort cleared off the line by St Albans, who a minute later
saw their own effort to square the match drift agonizingly wide.
The second half started with the Foresters winning a succession of
short corners as they laid siege to the home goal, with their best
effort coming from a Monteith flick which was well saved. Again, this
pressure was productive as Jamie Monteith stole in on 52 minutes to
extend the Foresters lead (1 – 3). Three minutes later, Tim Murphy
pulled off a great save to deny the home side. The Foresters then swept upfield and although they won a further succession of short corners, failed to convert any of them.
They were almost made to rue these golden opportunities as St Albans closed the gap on 64 minutes (2 – 3) to set up a tense finale to the match which neither side was able to turn to its advantage.
As we now enter the mid- season Christmas and New Year break from hockey, our minds can turn away from New Rules, short corners, League points et al and instead turn to turkey, presents and stocking fillers – a personal favourite (!). Mulled wine anyone?
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