Lytham 2 - Bowdon Killer Bees 2

After the drubbing the Bees received at the hands of Lytham just before Crimbo, the team had something to prove in this game, and some pride to restore. A strong side was selected (it's a home game, honest! ) with sex-kitten Maxi Rowlands in nets (think about it...), big Fish and yes, even Cheets, dragged away from domestic bliss (thanks for the cheque Lindy) for a truely titanic struggle. Yes, I'm talking of course about navigation!!!! It's been a while since we beat Lytham, but it's been a hell of a lot longer since we actually went straight to their club... This time we sensibly put the only two people truely confident of the route, Chris & Nick, in the same car and sent them off ahead to recce.

Ah...

So, with the rest of the team playing 'You go first' in the convoy, and after a moment or two for a group hug in a sideroad just off the M58 (and a quick glance at the map. Pointless of course.), we eventually made it to Lytham. For the first time there we played on astro, as Lytham had very kindly arranged this at our request.

Bowdon took the lead and right from the start everyone could feel that things were a lot more solid than our previous encounter with lytham. An early long ball by my good self which went somewhat wide of the mark was swiftly followed by the traditional extortion to the winger to run faster ; unfortunately Cheets heard this and countered with "Don't listen to him, it was a crap ball" - and so the team dynamics were established!

Yokker slotted one in for Bowdon to establish a lead, and put Lytham on the back foot. Unlike the pre-Christmas game the Bees did a good job of stopping the long ball to Lythams demon goal hanger, Peter. Eventually they equalised though, and we went into half time one apiece.

I risked some praise in the half-time talk (normally this results in the complete collapse of our game) and we started the second half determined to get ahead. I'm not sure who scored in which order, but Yokker got another one for the Bees and Lytham tucked one away as well to end the match at two all. Although it was good not to lose to Lytham, the fact is that (and I quote their umpire here) we missed three open goals and should have won it with the strongest side we have fielded this season.

Sterling work from Max in goal, and good confident blowing from Chris G & Jonny meant the match ran smoothly and in the normal excellent spirit in which the Bees play hockey. To get their own back for not winning, Lytham hit us where it hurts most and delayed the post-match butty mountain by about an hour! Suffice to say that when it arrived the gannets descended & any team spirit went out of the window as it became every Bee for himself. Sophisticated fellow that he is, Cheets did not lower himself to our base behaviour, and instead got stuck into the beers with Lytham , abley assisted by Banber. It was about this time that Andy White discovered he was driving...