Gravesham & Wellcome 2s travelled to Medway with Old Willie’s just levelled on points with them for second spot in the league. The home team had only lost to GW and to the league leaders and had one of the best records in the league. “Pressure’s on this one" were the words from the home team Captain at some of the Gravesham players pre-game, with him seemingly good spirits.

GW travelled with 13 plus an injured Andy Simpson (Simmo) – along in kit with his son the youngster Ollie having had a few days off work. Eren Basch and Nav Tung returned to the back 3 with Steve Caulfield occupying the ACM role and the Bradley brothers and Boothy between them shoring up things as the 2 blockers.

The team had a composed warmup and a calm pre-game conversation. All focus was on quick resetting, working hard for each other and (lessons from Sevenoaks?) managing the spaces between the lines. GW also discussed the expected robustness that would come from the home side and the expected challenge of not being afforded much protection from the umpires for such incidents.

As the game got off to a start it immediately felt like the Gravesham side might have the edge to come away with a win. Pressure was mostly going one way with the occasional ball going against but not seeming to cause problems. Jay Chima was enjoying a battle with an Old Willie’s youngster on the left and Matty Lucas was owning things down the right.

The constant pressure led to a couple of short corners and after figuring things out came the first goal of the game. Caulfield from top D firing one low and seeing a deflection take it into the roof of the net – beautiful and unstoppable.

Minutes later with Old Willie’s not yet settled Simmo picked up a ball from Chip and edged towards the D unopposed on the right. Not needing to be asked twice he buried a hit past the goalkeeper in the far corner! Perhaps having the injury had taken the pressure off for this game – there was more to come!

Moments later work from Jesse Bradley earned another short – and Caulfield stepped up to do his thing! 3-0 and Old Willie’s visibly shaken.

Captain Aaron Elliott and Vice-Captain Si Bradley offered a rallying cry to maintain focus – now could be a very dangerous moment. After a little more chasing across the back Elliott would come off to send Simmo back on. Simmo from stepping onto the pitch immediately ran the channel on the right to receive a pass and slide across for Ollie Simpson to send against the backboard with a crack: 4-0!

Half time came and the team came together to reflect on the good things they had been doing but insisted on seeing the second half as a new game. GW expected the second half could go very ‘hairy’ for them with the likely poor emotional state of some Old Willie’s players. A warning was made around discipline to avoid cheap cards being given away – not just verbal but in tackling correctly too. Some words of advice and encouragement were also given from Tung to the youngsters to help with safety.

The second half got underway and the anticipated play from the home side began, ‘robust’ challenges going in to the midfield trio. A like for like reaction from Caulfield did not see a like for like reaction from the umpires with him seeing a green card for his troubles. He took his sin-bin and the team managed things on pitch with Old Willie’s failing to make the numbers advantage really count. A short corner and an effort or two at goal but ably dealt with by the defence, being marshalled expertly as always by Rich Atwood, and drawing nice saves from GK Dan Stapley.

Back on came Caulfield and the Gravesham side experienced the boost that often comes from regaining strength – Simmo went past the defenders and slotted home behind the keeper from the baseline. 5-0 and now just a case of seeing the game out.

Old Willie’s not offering too much danger did manage to earn a short corner or two and one resulted in their Captain squeezing his shot in for a consolation goal. 5-1.

Up the other end and intricate passing from their attack meant Simmo found Elliott top D who turned the advancing keeper and unleashed a reverse towards the top left of the net – but a defender just managing to get a stick to it. With the net bulging an umpire initially signalled goal but it had connected on the wrong side of the post!

Shortly afterwards another play and this time the pass across from Simmo took the keeper out of the game for Elliott to square it into the empty goal. 6-1.

Old Willie’s needed a little help to prevent the game becoming embarrassing for them. An elbow through the Gravesham Captains back was somehow given against the away side, an off the ball shove on a youngster was missed and a subsequent challenge from Caulfield saw him see a yellow (still no cards for Old Willie’s).
Matty Lucas went on for Simmo, tactical change, so that he could cover Caulfield. A 50/50 coming together in the middle again and another card for a Gravesham player – the just dispatched Lucas seeing green.
GW were down to 9 players.

Elliott went back on to provide some running up top and they managed to earn a short corner. Looking around, none of the usual short corner routine players were on pitch and a quick fix was found. Chris Bradley (Chip) would inject to Boothy who would aim a pass far post for Elliott. The play was executed as hoped but with some improvisation Chip was found by Elliotts deflection on the other post – from where he launched the ball into the roof of the net over the scrambling goalkeeper. 7-1?
Had they really scored another with 9 players?!
No was the answer – the umpire after initially signalling goal disallowed as first shot above backboard (after intervention from his colleague). It was probably the correct decision but some might have given it – interpretation of where the first shot was being key.

As the game began to wind down an obvious and dangerous shove from an Old Willie’s player saw him green carded before the game drew to a close.

The first half was the best half of hockey GWHC2s had played this season and a well managed second half had followed.

The Captain of Old Willie’s in good spirits before the game was not quite feeling the same at the end – pressure had been his words before the start but it clearly hadn’t been the Gravesham side feeling it!
Gravesham & Wellcome 2s had well and truly trounced a promotion rival – at their own ground – and secured a 10-1 aggregate score.

Bigger games still to come – every team in the league will want to raise their game when they play this remarkable team – they will have harder days than today. There is a long way to go and they still have lots to do.

Man of the Match: Steve Caulfield.