Mens Fours Visit Leighton Buzzard

The Berkhamsted team arrived at Leighton Buzzard's pitch on a brisk Saturday afternoon, led by their ever-dedicated but injury-prone captain, Nigel (seriously I think he is made from glass at this point). True to form, Nigel kicked things off with an upbeat team talk, urging the team to avoid arrogance while also casually mentioning that if they reached double digits, that we should keep the pressure on. The mood was focused but light-hearted as the team prepared for the game.

Before the match began, there was a poignant moment as both teams observed a minute’s silence for Ed Holderness, a cherished member of the club who has tragically died recently. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Holderness family at this time, Ed you will be greatly missed.

The game commenced with Berkhamsted looking to assert dominance early, but it was clear from the start that the team wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Passing accuracy was off, and possession was too often lost. Despite the early struggles, the team showed great spirit, with Ayres making a driving run up from defense to set up Alex for a shot that forced a fine save from the opposition keeper. James Arnold shone on the wing, creating opportunities with ease, while Manish (stepping down from the thirds) controlled the midfield with confidence, even if his play reduced one young Leighton Buzzard player to tears.

Leighton Buzzard capitalized on Berkhamsted’s early rustiness, scoring twice in the first half. While the goals were well-taken, there was a sense that Berkhamsted had more to give. Nigel summed it up at halftime: "Rusty, but still in the fight."

The second half saw a revitalized Berkhamsted. The defensive pairing of Hunt and Andrew Lunn provided much-needed solidity, while Laurence and Hin connected brilliantly in midfield. Paul added extra depth to the team’s buildup, and Andrew Whitaker impressed with a display of composure on the ball.

Berkhamsted’s breakthrough came from a slick team move, with Rob finishing neatly to bring the score to 2-1. Momentum appeared to shift as Berkhamsted earned a short corner. Alex fired the ball high into the D, where it was deftly tapped in by Ryan —but the goal was disallowed, leaving the team still trailing. The forwards were supported also by a skillful Tom Arnold who added much needed strength.

Drama unfolded when Ayres earned a green card for not retreating five meters on a sideline ball and then engaging. The incident went unnoticed by much of the team until Rob pointed it out, leading to a moment of confusion on the sidelines. Ayres was given no indication of when to come back on until Chris who was doing a solid job in goals shouted at him to get back on, which he did, hastily.

Leighton Buzzard pressed hard in the closing stages. In the final moments, a young Leighton Buzzard player drove towards the goal, only to be met by a firm but fair tackle from Chris. The player went down hard, play was stopped and with only a few seconds remaining on the clock the umpire blew the final whistle.

The game ended 2-1 in favor of Leighton Buzzard. Despite the loss, Berkhamsted showed grit and improvement in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their early struggles.

Man of the Match: Tom Ayres (somehow)
Dick of the Day: Tom Ayres (I wonder why)

It was the first time someone has ever been both DoD and MoM!
Written by yours truly, Tom Ayres (this took me way too long)