4 hours early at Stepps

After arriving 4 hours early for our game at Stepps I had plenty of time to think of tactics and inspect the pitch.

My conclusion, we had 12 so I doubt I'd get a rest and the pitch was slippy, I then settled down to some course work in the clubhouse - that was great preparation.

We started, we went 1-0 down - great. After Stepps broke Jonny slipped (told you the pitch was slippy!) and their centre forward calmly put the ball to the side of him.

We managed to grab an equaliser and a second almost immediately. Michael Fenelon beating the goalie with a nice strike and me making use of the facilities - hitting the post, the ball rebounding off the goalie and going into the net - to make it 2-1.

Stepps drew level with a very sweet finish - ball in from the right, and the boy touched it between his legs into the bottom corner. Thierry Henry sprung to mind.

We scored a third just before half time but we hadn't played well at all.

The chat at half time was that of individual responsibility, we had to play better.

We started well and held our shape better in the second half, passing the ball quicker and making it difficult for Stepps to get back into the game.

We scored three and limited their chances to very few.

I think we could have scored a few more, we also hit the post and the bar - though these shots didn't count to being on target .

I remember the last goal ... Good play up the left from Will Shep and John McC played the ball through to Andy G who swept it across the D to Michael Fenelon to deflect home into the roof of the net. Very good finish from Figgy and extremely similar to Pruyser's second goal for Amsterdam v Bloomendaal in the semi final of EHL earlier this year. (Highlights of which are on eurohockeyleague YouTube channel if you missed it)

We went in got 3 points and got out - sometimes you have to win ugly and we achieved our aim. Though Tom didn't - he didn't score 13 goals in two games and our fox in the box from last season didn't get a goal in either!

Oh and I did get a rest - subbed myself off much to the displeasure of coach Batch.