Hammered by Mid-Afternoon

2:56 am alarm goes off in the Warren household, to accompany the rain.  A bit of creaking with the slow rise to the challenge of the day ahead. Kettle chiming with the familiar low pitched din. Uniform smartly pressed is dawn with the thick high visibility coat to repel all parts of the horrible rain beating down North West Essex. A five hourshift is endured and ended with a tired run accrossa car park.  Navigation of traffic to reach Cambridge it just under 23 minutes, running to the car driver and hotfooting it to out of the murky congestion. Fortunately Matt W took generous pity on the yet to-be-announced lemon, volunteering to chauffeurhis weary frame to the Fenlands and beyond.

After navigating awkward Fen road with adverse cambers andflatbed lorries that resisted any urge to travel over 35 mph any given moment, it was finally light relief to see the halcyon gates Of the Hockey club and pitch.

The task ahead for the heroes of the men’s fifth team was not an easy one. Misfortune and bad luck had robbed the team of its towering leader. With the game close to starting, the 12th man that was desperately needed would not answer the call, literally!

The game started brighter than the weather with a couple of half chances on other days would’ve met with the sound of the crack against the backboard. This day would not see such joy and wonder. As the game progressed, both sides started crafting chances from open play and from short corners. With two minutes to go at the end of the first half, a rebound fell to the best Wisbech player, who in -turn cracked a half volley into the ground and cruelly evaded, the despairing defenders.

The half-time team talk lifted South from their tired malaise. Greater and better all-round play and attacks generated opportunities to level the scores however, a mixture of great last gasp defending, coupled with unusually poor finishing, allowed the hosts to not only repel or attacks but glance themselves further into the lead, with a unintended deflection.

A tough day at the office, left quite a few more obvious choices for the recipient of lemon. However, the team chose against logic, fairness and all forms of equity, by selecting the ultra-committed and hard-working player/coach as he writes this as he writes this match report, get a small lump in his throat and my eyes!