GW2s went into this away game knowing discipline and staying focussed on the game was key, as past experiences at this pitch have cost them. Although, off the back of back-to-back 6-1 wins the team were confident they would at least grind out a result.

The game started with a fierce attack from BA4s, but a quick counterattack starting with quick passing from Caulfield to Simmo led to a great first-time finish from Elliott one on one with the goalkeeper.

GW quickly grew into the game, and many chances then developed with lots of shots directed at the back-post. The second was soon coming.

GW were very good getting it out of defense after a BA attack, and from one of these again some intricate passes from Si Bradley and Caulfield to box the ball to Matty Lucas, who had an easy pass to Simmo for a well taken goal.

A few attacks from BA were easily thwarted by GW’s rock solid defense, with Eren Basch easily intercepting the passes to the strikers and Rich Atwood calling and organising the defense from the back, leaving no gaps. Steve Caulfield, Sumeet Dinsha and Jon Booth(y) controlled the middle very well, and soon a chance in Burnt Ash’s D came as Boothy struck. Jesse Bradley had twisted and turned down the left before finding Elliott who cut it back for the arriving Boothy to send it high into the net. A great effort. 3-0.

To finish a brilliant half of hockey, Elliott scored again in a dangerous position close to BA’s goal after great work from Dhinsa on the right. GW thought they had ended the game already at half-time, but it wasn’t over yet.

4-0 HT

Only 10 seconds into the second half had Burnt Ash 4s piling the pressure on GW as some quick passing down their right wing had a chance lifted over GW’s sliding goalkeeper into the backboard. BA were not going down without a fight.

A shocked GW took this warning of what could happen if they did not wake up and quickly started an attack down their right wing through Simmo and Ollie. Ollie touched the ball around the goalkeeper but just as he was about to score… another player saved it off the line?

The ball was lifted into the player in front of the goal. A penalty-flick was given. The usual taker, Andy Simmo, gave it to his son, Ollie, and he easily flicked it into the side-netting just above the backboard (bottom left).

Short moments of attacks from BA gave away a few short corners for them: they seemed like a threat. One of these short corners was well taken straight into the bottom corner. They had still not given up.

However, more chances for GW turned up and some great dribbling from Matty Lucas gave some great chances to score a goal. Although BA had not given up, it seemed like GW was always in control, and movement of the ball quickly distributed around the pitch asserted GW’s dominance throughout the game.

To wrap the game up, J Bradley twisted and turned as 2 Burnt Ash players ran straight into each other around him, giving the short corner to GW. A well-performed routine led Elliott to collect his hat trick as he deflected the ball into the net. A great overall performance on all areas and positions on the pitch.

Author: Jesse Bradley (thank you!)