Match Report: Men’s 1st XI 12th Oct

Yateley 5-2 Petersfield

On a wet and miserable day, YHC Men’s 1st XI stepped onto the pitch to try and brighten the spirits of the few supporters who braved the weather. After winning their first two league games, the team were in a positive mood.

Yateley started the game in a controlled manner showing great patience with some magnificent transferring between the back four of Swinyard, Morley, S.Creswell and Sealey. The mid-field unit kept the movement high allowing balls to be played in and out of the central area creating space down the wide channels for the forwards to launch attacks into the opponent’s circle.

This pressure led to a Yateley short corner, which unfortunately was not converted, but things were looking bright for the rest of the game.

The introduction of Boorman into the game did not have the effect that the energetic mid-fielder would have wanted. Having picked the ball up in the central area, Boorman was unfairly tackled from behind but no whistle came and, in his efforts to win the ball back gave away a short corner; 1-0 Petersfield!

In previous seasons this would have been the catalyst to cause a spectacular melt-down within the Yateley ranks, but today it helped galvanise the team’s belief in each other and they pressed on. A flurry of attacking play saw Hogg win another short corner. “Doris” was the call and she was dispatched clinically; the hard ball across the circle from Morley being deflected brilliantly into the roof of the net by Boorman, who had now redeemed himself.

Yateley continued to pile on the pressure and another short corner was won, this time being slotted home by Roper with a straight drag. 2-1 Yateley within 10 minutes of going behind.

With the half drawing to a close, the defence and midfield were content to keep transferring the ball around to tire out Petersfield who had slipped back into a half-court press. The slick passing finally created a gap down the left side which was exploited by Sealey who found Collins on the edge of the circle. Having beaten the first man, Collins looked up to find Laskey completely unmarked on the p-spot who calmly placed the ball past the on-rushing keeper; 3-1 Yateley!

The half-time talk by Collins was short and to the point; keep doing what we’re doing and we’ve got this.

The second half started the way the first had ended; patient build-up play through the defence and midfield gave plenty of opportunities for the forward line of Joyce, Powell, Hogg and Laskey to attack the circle. Time after time, Hogg’s quick hands were too much for the Petersfield defence and more short corners were won. Having worked in the first half, “Doris” was called into action again; this time the keeper made the save, but the ball fell kindly to Sealey who skilfully evaded the post man to score. 4-1 Yateley!

Yateley were now in a rhythm and playing with immense confidence. Hogg was yet again causing havoc down the right channel and found Moore unmarked in the circle; was this the moment that everyone had been waiting for – a James Moore goal???

Sadly, today was not his day and his firm effort was saved. More short corners were won, mostly by Hogg, and Yateley’s final goal came from a second drag flick from Roper; Joyce was there looking on in admiration (with possibly a small tear in his eye).

With Peterfield now being four goals down, they decided to throw caution to the wind for the final 10 minutes and threw everything at Yateley. The defence held firm right to the end when captain Collins was unfortunate to give away a short corner in the dying seconds. With the final whistle having been blown all the Petersfield team stepped up to the circle to hopefully grab what would be no more than a consolation goal. An unorthodox pushout from the right side confused the Yateley defensive unit and the ball found its way past keeper D.Cresswell for the second time.

Not the way they would have liked to finish, but the team were happy with another win.

After the match, captain Collins said:
“This is the best I have seen the team play for a long time.”
Joyce also said something, but no-one was listening as they were all busy thinking of the celebratory Coke they were about to drink to celebrate three wins from three and being top of the table.

The team are going “sober for October” in support of Macmillan Cancer Support and YHC; please donate all you can at
https://tinyurl.com/y4tddeyr