Havering 1 – Brentwood Academy – 3

The start of a new hockey season brings with it a joy that is difficult to replicate. For the Academy its, a burst of excitement and anticipation. Saturday did nothing to dent the hope and optimism. The renewed rivalries those of us who have been around a while always recognise others in the opposition, or as was the case on Saturday the finicky nature of an opposition umpire.

The previous two weeks turned into good preparation. The club day and the pre-season friendly were played out in a heatwave and the heat remained. There are multiple reasons why I’m not plying my trade in high level sports in Saudi Arabia as appears to becoming popular in certain sports and I’ve added my personal distaste of running around in heat to the list.

The Academy got their season started early, getting the upper hand in opening exchanges, a nice quick start and it wasn’t long before the Academy got their season up and running. A couple of chances really to create chances came and went in the first few minutes before I managed to get an interception in midfield, got the ball forward and Jake Sanders finished high into the net from a tight angle away to the right of the D. Oh yee of little faith, just as I thought Jake had taken it to far he put paid to my pessimism with a devastating finish. One became two very quickly as I was able to capitalise on a ball coming free at the top of the D to dispatch a shot low to the keepers right. I suspect there will be many more defences who we will face who would have been more alive to the danger and offered a greater level of closing down pressure and I hope that our defence would have acted with greater urgency but I wasn’t about to complain.

At 2-0 we then had to see out an early barrage of short corners. Decent running seemed to force Havering away from their preferred hit form the top of D and James MacKay, having an excellent competitive start to his Brentwood career, gobbled up numerous slips and tricks running 2.

Havering had perhaps the better of the first half but truth be told the early goals had done the damage. We were able to play in flashes and that was enough, Jake Sanders has joy in getting two goals with great finishes, and looked a treat throughout, Alex Hull gets a serviceable chance or two with smart movement that has become his trademark and creates his own. Isaac Minor creates problems for the opposition. Havering never really get to grips with our youngsters up front, they don’t want to have to turn around, turning around is hard, chasing after a smaller and quicker person then you in the heat is no fun. Flashes were enough. Havering could never afford to fully press onto us, we had their respect, and they knew we were capable of countering should they over commit.

They got a goal back. A slightly dodgy aerial from our captain that got intercepted had the defence scrambling. In the scramble the ball hit my foot and a short rightly given. Havering went back to the hit from the top of the D and with the run not quite making it on this occasion a bobbly mis hit had enough mystery and spin to seek through. No worries. No panic.

The second half continued much the same. It felt like Havering had more possession, but we seemed to carry more threat. A one goal lead is never comfortable and in the heat no one was comfortable but I personally was never worried. Jake Sanders popped up with the crucial goal mid-way through the second half. Taken from a very similar position to the right of the goal it capped a lovely move involving Isaac and Alex. That seemed to kill off Havering, we were probably a little fitter (didn’t feel like it) and they caused very little problems as we dominated in the final phase of the game.

The five adults worked hard and with Samuel Anderson gave the team a really good shape. I felt the messages and talking on the pitch was clear and listened to. Our shape and work rate won through. Our subs change this game like the correct tyres for a wet track. We substitute well and often, good use of the bench. The Academy is not perfect, far from it and learning all the time how to make marginal gains. And perfect is overrated.

It was great to see Frank Edwards and Max Bakal make positive contributions on their competitive debut – they’ll definitely do for us. Doug and Isaac continue to grow, Isaac seems to be learning good positional responsibility and had a short go in the centre of midfield. Frank got a shot off in the second half and will benefit from Ian Anderson’s coaching and the messages about shorter backswings. I seem to recall his older brother getting similar as he was coming through.

An excellent start, onwards and upwards for this latest iteration of the Academy.

Team: Guy Westcott, Samuel Anderson, Ian Anderson, Chris Minor, James McKay, Gary MacDonnell, Frank Edwards, Max Bakal, Rob Sanders, Jake Sanders, Alex Hull, Doug Muncey, Isaac Minor.

Man of the Match: It was tough on Jake, getting two goals and being top joint goal scorer in the club should in theory get you the honour but Sam Anderson played a blinder at right back, never missed a tackle and took on great responsibility going forward.