Brentwood Hockey Club Men’s 1st XI v Basildon

Beckett Keys School
11/11/23 – 14.15
Final score: 11 - 1

Andy Turner
Alex Henderson
Brady Doyle
Colin Bannell (VC)
Derry Mager
George Lilley (C)
Jacob Macdonnell
Jak Taylor
Owen Smith (GK)
Paddy Wilson
Matt Hadley
Steve Gilchrist
Tom Anderson
Tom Creswell
Tristan Barnes

Alan Lindsay (Coach)

Brentwood keep marching on. This was an excellent victory against a battling Basildon side. Brentwood welcomed back Alex Henderson (aka Smiler) for his first match of the season. The former captain coming back after a prolonged injury lay off. In all honesty he could have asked for a more comfortable comeback as Brentwood really dominated the game from start to finish.

Brentwood displayed terrific attacking hockey. Wave after wave of Brentwood attacks crashed against a Basildon defence that were dropping deeper and deeper as the match progressed. The front players rotating, and their movement caused no end of problems for Basildon. The majority of goals were a result of quick sharp movement, precise passing, patience and good finishing.

Goals were shared around. Tom Cresswell (4), Andy Turner and Derry Mager (3 each) and Jacob MacDonnell (1). Owen Smith who has been in inspirational form in the early weeks of the season choose the right week to make a wrong decision and was at fault for the Basildon goal late in the second half, giving away a penalty that he then failed to stop.

The win puts Brentwood top on 22 points. The next two weeks are vital. They will play 3rd place Plashat next week and 2nd place Chelmsford the week after, both are chasing Brentwood and are only one win, three points, behind.