BHHHC Lions 3:6 Yateley 2s

The result of this end of season match was Yateley finishing slightly higher in the middle of the league table than BHHHC. Based on the run of play, this seemed a fair outcome. Yateley's 6-3 victory was in part down to the skill of their centre forward, who scored a very smart individual hat-trick, and sucked in the markers that gave his fellow forwards the space to walk three more in. Their midfield was fast, skillful and match aware, which meant we were mostly outmatched in two thirds of the pitch.

When they got the ball, Berkhamsted's forwards had the better of the Yateley defence, and our three scores demonstrated a dynamic range of attacking skill. A simple, inch-perfect, Payton short corner strike was our only goal of the first half and certainly kept some tension in the game until a couple of unanswered opposition goals shifted the balance. Roger was involved in the second, which offered some hope of a fourth-quarter resurgence, when his succulent aerial found T Moorhouse top D, with a bit to do, and a bit he did! The third was a consolation that nudged the scoreline towards respectability on the stroke of full time. Dylan, finding himself with some time nailed a sweet, long range cross-goal shot past the keeper's outstretched right kicker, triggering applaud from the home crowd, and the final whistle. The right result, we felt, although things could have been different had Yateley's keeper not kept out T Moorhouse & T Barron Rockets in the second half (has anyone before seen a keeper go down injured after stopping shot with the middle of the glove?). Thanks go to Roger (Macklin) and Nick, the kings of the Astroturf, for providing some highly unremarkable umpiring.

The real story, at the final final whistle of the season is not in the detail of the match, but in the camaraderie, team spirit and character of the 2nd XI. There'll be summing up to come, but as a recent returner to the pitch, your correspondent has noticed the same faces turning out every week, a supportive team environment, and shared in the real joy of running round chasing a small ball. Congratulations to Jason and his Lions, a great advert for the club.

REPORTER: TOM VILA
MOM: TOM MOORHOUSE
DOD: HAYDN DRINKWATER (6 GOALS?!?)