Clinical Hampstead take the points

Clinical Hampstead take the points

The Mens 1s took a trip down to the capital to take on Hampstead and Westminster in what would be potentially one of the toughest games of the season. With a plethora of talent, the returning Peter Cornell and the 3 debutantes of Warwick Ryan-Beswick, Andy KO Jackson and Brynn (the Namibian not South African) Cleak, the lads had a lot of confidence that they could take away the spoils on the opening day of the season.

The game started in typical fashion of a season opener, fast paced and frantic. Both sides wanting to lay down marker early doors. Hampstead and Westminster boasted a wealth experience both of premier league and international standard which seemed to allow for more free flowing hockey. Brooklands took a while to find their feet and found themselves 1 down before they had time to really get going. On the back of a harsh corner which saw a nice tackle mistaken for a foot, Hampstead converted and made it 2-0 going into the break. Brooklands however, weren't without chances in the 1st half, notably Richard Slater who had a shot blocked by a last ditch dive which would have swung the momentum in favour of the Georges road side come the start of the second half.

Brooklands needed a good positive start to the second half and they did just that creating chances and opportunities to score. A glorious chance opened up when newly appointed vice captain, Oliver Clarke found himself in lots of space with a 3 on 2 going into the D. A small bobble of the ball and a miss trap onto a foot from David Flanagan meant the chance to get right back in the game was gone. This didn't deter the lads as they pushed forward to create more chances. The returning Peter Cornell used his pace to break the back line and found himself 1v1 with the keeper only to be denied. These chances had been and gone and the London side survived their bad patch.

With some more loose defending Hampstead put 2 more past Brooklands and that was game essentially over. A few fine details need to be tweaked in this weeks training but nothing that the Brooklands men can't put right for Sundays game.

The men are at home this week, back at the fortress on Georges Road against East Grinstead, starting at 14:00, come on along and support the team!!