Phenomenal display for the 2s

Clydesdale 2s 0 - Grange 2s 9 (NINE)

Big game this weekend first versus second.

A hotly anticipated contest against a side that we fought hard to grind out a win against earlier in the season.

With 13 in the squad we knew it was going to be a tough game. Made even tougher when we learnt en route that the 1s had lost a centre back and so we lost Mike Leonard!

Ah well ... it gave the youngsters a chance to shin, I sent the message to Batch who discussed with hungover Greg to deliver a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.

We arrived to see a full (15) Clydesdale 2nd XI warming up with the gusto we have come to expect from them over the past couple of seasons.

As usual the first 10 minutes were very tight, we gave away the ball a bit cheaply whilst finding our feet and sucked up some pressure.

The was alleviated after Frenzel slotted home a goal at the back post from a ncie individual steal and carry from Mickey Fenelon!

1-0, we kept piling on the pressure and kept a really tight structure, Will Shep and Jack Hogarth settling in very well to their positions at centre and left back respectively.

Clydesdale have some really skillful players and forwards who made some excellent leads causing us problems.

We bagged a second and third before half time, goals from Cruickshank and Graham both set up by old man Batchelor.

Going in at half time we were very aroused. We had played our best half of hockey of the season and within that some really sexy stuff.

Batch called for a couple of minutes of quiet for us to settle down and get our breath back. Queue chat about the Hunger Games and Torres' awful aqua shoes.

We got started and really kicked on. After a few minutes of calm possession hockey we turned it on.

We won a few corners and really played excellent passing hockey.

Goals came from two Collister corners including a well worked one with a Batchelor pirouette. Tom completed his hattrick, Cruickshank bagged another.

The last one came from an aerial from Andy Graham at right back (having already duffed two up earlier in the half!) onto Torres on the half way line who beat two players and shot reverse stick into the bottom corner of the goal.

An excellent result and a brilliant display of simple, fast hockey that we have been working towards all season.

Big shout for Jack Hogarth and Will Shepherdson they stepped up to the mark when we lost Mike and had great displays of individual skill, tackling and excellent decision making. Compliments from a number of senior players saying that both Jack and Will talked, instructed and led the team from the back - great stuff. With a host of development team / 6th XI youngsters shining I'm sure we'll have a few more coming through the ranks soon. Stumpy if you're reading this then we'll need Jack for Saturday away to Hillhead ... 1230 start.

Definitely the best game of the season so far and everyone was extremely happy at the end. However, due to exams, babies and work we'll need to contain our drinking until the christmas night out.

One more game left before the Christmas break and another very tough match against Hillhead, they will be a good team at home and with their 1s not having a game it'll be even harder.

It's always an enjoyable game and everyone likes a trip to the friendly bench / fort.

Let's continue that form and make it 12 from 12 boys and enjoy our night out then.

MOM is a very tight call but with his hard work, stupid tache and skills I think Mickey Fenelon has to take the prize. But thought we all clicked and won very well as a team.