Bowdon Killer Bees 9 - Urmston 1

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Twilight Zone... Everyone knew 'something was up' when they arrived at the pitch, because they saw the Bees practising penalty corner routines.

This is not normal.

Hang on a sec, this sounds more like Groundhog Day than the Twilight Zone!

Yup, with Bebbington being unable to make their scheduled fixture against the Bees (word must be out!), Urmston had filled the gap. So, it was same place, same time, same oppo, and as it turned out, nearly the same score!

Despite assurances to the contrary, Urmston showed up late again & in dribs & drabs. Once again we started the game late and with a few Bowdon players donning Urmston shirts (any colour! ). Despite this, and mindful of the pressure we had been put under in the latter half of last weeks game, the Bees started off with a distinct air of focus, and moved the ball around the pitch with confidence and purpose. There was little evidence of the Bees usual start-of-game bumbling around, kicking & failing to stop the ball, and the team was working hard. The attack and midfield were linking up & down the pitch well , and the defence covering each other to deny Urmston any access to our twenty five, despite some serious attempts by Urmston's forward line.

The game was obviously going to carry on where we left off last week, with Urmston immediately getting into the swing of the game and giving the Bees a hard time. Everyone rose to the occassion however (steady Stickie!) and the goals started trickling in for the home team from open play. From the back it was enjoyable to watch some nice hockey taking place in front of me, with Carl Gary & Dave P threading the ball nicely up the right, and Andy B, Stickie & Giles constantly threatening down the left. Andy M, Yokker & Dave T had a kinky threesome going in the middle and Urmston's defence, by now bolstered by the arrival of their last players, never looked comfortable.

There was little constructive criticism (always!) to be given at half time as we were buzzing! Jonny had provided some essential fresh legs on the left to maintain the pressure, with ringer Vet Paul Blackwell marshalling the defence to great effect. Goals from Phillips, Marshall, Sutcliffe, Campbell & Swarbrick brightened the game, with a storming four further goals coming from Dave 'I took my hockey pill' Taylor! Despite several concerted efforts by Urmston's youngsters in our Dee, keeper Andy White had maintained a clean sheet until fifteen minutes from the end when a critical error in the marking by the defence left him wide open, and although he fielded the first shot, the second one went over the line. Good things looks can't actually kill 'cos otherwise we'd be down a couple of backs - oops!

One of the most satisfying games to have played in this season, with the whole team playing well against a reasonably challenging opposition. A deserved victory.

Result. Again.