Men's 2 vs Southwick M2

With several of the Men’s section otherwise engaged on the day and with clashing game start times at three points of the compass in Sussex for the 1s, 2s and Millers, Men’s 2s travelled to Southwick with ten of the more senior, but experienced, 2s players. Hailsham’s hope hinged on the opposition’s lack of keeper at that start of the game giving them an early advantage but the 11 outfield Southwick players, combined with a couple of injuries to their players that required lengthy game stoppages (with one Hailsham player overheard to say that if dying is going to take place, please can it be off-pitch), saw the ‘Wick keeper arrive with Hailsham having scored no goals, and the half time score eventually finished Hailsham 3-nil down.

After a rousing half-time talk, Hailsham were quick off the mark to win a penalty corner, with the ensuing pinball around the ‘Wick D seeing the ball land within striking distance of Kirk Manning, who duly struck it to the backboard to get Hailsham on the scoresheet: game on! Five minutes later and, after soaking up yet more pressure from the youthful ‘Wick attack (the Hailsham defence combined age was three times that of the ‘Wick front line), Stu Baldwin released the ball from the Hailsham 25-metre line to Ant Hathaway, who had been loitering with intent on the halfway line. Hathaway proceeded up the pitch towards the opposition D, skilfully weaving around the defenders before slotting the ball past the keeper: goal deficit now just one, with Hailsham now fired up and looking for more goals. Alas the lack of Hailsham players started to tell and with ‘Wick having legs to spare courtesy of their substitutes, tired legs and more mistakes (mainly from the aged Hailsham defenders) saw the home team draw back the two goals, despite keeper Tom Lodge’s best efforts to keep the ball out. Another penalty corner for Hailsham saw a Stu Baldwin strike from the top of the D make its way past the keeper to put Hailsham back in the running, but with the whole team running out of steam, another penalty corner for ‘Wick saw their excellent drag-flicker lift the ball just above Lodge’s stick to finish the game with a 6-3 win.

Hailsham may have lost the first half but left the pitch with heads held high after matching Southwick for goals in the second half, looking forward to reversing the score-line when ‘Wick visit the ‘Sham in January.

With the votes in from the team, and with 4 votes each, Stu Baldwin and Ant Hathaway were jointly awarded Hailsham Player of the Match, both being cited for their excellent work rate (and goals).