Bowdon Killer Bees 2 - Lytham 6

A glorious sunny day on the Dev set the scene for the first match of the season against Lytham. As a newcomer, I enquired about the opposition; Bees stalwarts told me that they were grass players (not the smoking kind, as we would find out later!) and would play a tight game, playing short passes. In the warm up the Bees practiced short corners, and looked highly professional.

The game started with great energy and, as predicted, Lytham played a passing game. The Bees managed to get some reasonable possession, but were unable to convert the attacks, as Lytham defended in numbers. The game was open with plenty of room in midfield. Lytham took advantage of this and by half time were 3-0 ahead. The score line was not really a reflection of the Bees first half performance.

The start of the second half was the lowest point of the game for the Bees. The Bees won a rare short corner half way through the second half. The short corner move was textbook: Hawkins stopped the ball and pushed it to the right; the ball was struck crisply across the front of the goal and pushed into the net by Tennant. The goal buoyed the Bees spirit, and the last part of the game was well fought.

As the last quarter started, the weather then turned. The second ice age descended on the Dev, freezing areas of the pitch and making the playing conditions challenging. Again, Lytham strung passes together, and were able to put more goals in the Bee's net. The Bees had one last sting in the tail. Hawkins put a long through ball from midfield to Harris on the edge of the Lytham “D”. Once in the D the shot went into the left hand side of the goal, but it was all a little too late to turn the game round .

Despite the score line, the Bees had moments of playing good hockey, but Lytham’s consistent passing ability was the deciding factor in the game. There is a chance to make amends in March on the return leg at Lytham.

NKYB Harris