Bees open new season in style !

On an extremely hot September afternoon a much changed SMHC team handed debuts to new players Yves, Lamb and Holmes as SMHC lined up against a familiar foe in Oxton for their first pre-season friendly of the 2012/2013 season
After two convincing wins against the same opposition last season confidence was clearly high in the SMHC squad and it did not take long for the bees to convert this confidence into a dominant start to the game.

SMHC’s early dominance was rewarded after 10 minutes when the first short corner of the game was awarded after sustained pressure from the SMHC attack forced an error from a shaky Oxton defence. A well worked routine from the training ground broke the deadlock as Hampton fired the ball back to the injector Afonja who clinical swept the ball home to make the score 1-0.
This goal clearly buoyed the home team and the pressure was relentless, chances came and went as it was clear to see SMHC were rusty in front of goal, highlighted none more so than after great play in the middle from New signing Lamb created space for captain Hampton to drive at the centre of the Oxton defence and break into the D only to lift the ball over the keeper and see the ball strike the post during his premature celebration.

Just as SMHC was beginning to wonder if they would come to rue the host of missed chances brilliant flowing counter attacking movement started by Souter from centre back allowed Hornsby to collect the ball and play a pin point through ball in to the path of on rushing Hampton who lifted the ball over the keeper for the second time again striking the post before collecting the rebound and calmly slotting it in the bottom corner, no premature celebrations this time 2-0 SMHC.

The game had now settled into a pattern with SMHC enjoying the lion share of possession built on a commanding defensive display, with the odd oxton counter attack causing little danger to the SMHC defence. The same could not be said of the Oxton defence as they struggled to deal with the pace and flair of the SMHC attack. The 3rd SMHC goal again highlighted rustiness in front of goal as woeful Oxton defenders failed to clear the ball on no less than 6 occasions before Greenhough drove a powerful shot into the bottom left corner past a helpless keeper. With the score 3-0 the bees began to cruise and lost concentration momentarily as a well-executed Oxton break away allowed an oxton midfielder to go one on one with Lynch-Mathew a brilliantly performed lob over the on rushing keeper made the score 3-1 just before the half time whistle.

Oxton rallied behind their late goal in the second half and for the first time in the match pinned SMHC into their own half, despite the oxton pressure SMHC held firm and launched counter attack after counter attack looking the far more menacing team and the more likely team to score again. This proved the case as Souter playing in an unfamiliar role in defensive midfield broke forward after Leonard had intercepted the ball at right back close to half way, Souter charged at the heart of the Oxton defence before slipping the ball to Hampton who played a precise pass between two defenders to find Greenhough in the D. There is only one outcome when Greenhough finds space inside the D to shoot, and not to disappoint the fans the prolific striker found the bottom corner with an unstoppable strike making the score 4-1 to the bees.

The fourth goal clearly switched the momentum in favour of SMHC but to Oxton’s credit they continued to fight to the end and SMHC were restricted to the counter attacking game which served them so well throughout the 2011/2012 season. The bees further increased their lead as Hampton was played into space after slick passing by Yves and Lamb who charged at the on rushing keeper who did well to pull off the initial save but was left helplessly scurrying after the ball as Hampton calmly played the rebound into the path of Lamb who finished into the bottom left corner, 5-1 Bees.

The bees weren’t finished there when Holmes intercepted the ball on the edge of his own D sprayed the ball out left and set off in pursuit down field. His run was rewarded at the other end as Rigby squared the ball for Holmes to score not only his first SMHC goal but his first ever goal, Final score Bees 6 Oxton 1.

As the clock tick away Oxton were in no mood to lie down but SMHC held firm and collected a well-deserved victory.On a day when many players played well picking up Man of the match votes , Lenoard , Souter , Greenhough, Hampton , and Lamb but there can only be one Man of the Match and the honour was awarded to Alan Lenoard. The less prestigious award of Dick of th Day was awarded initially as a tie to Vivek Tharskin who forgot his towel and had to get dried with a flannel and Gareth Hampton who’s premature goal celebration brought many laughs. But after late votes by Rigby and Hornsby Vivek was awarded Dick of the day unanimously.