Ramblers Stung

Arriving early to the Parrs Wood pitch allowed a little bit of scouting of 2 league rivals; Didsbury Northern and Neston South Wirral. Neston scored a last minute goal to take the game 2-1 over our local rivals so things were looking up immediately!

The Bees took a while to get into the game and an early short corner shot from Deeside managed to sneak under the stick of Bottomley but fortunately the ball hadn't travelled outside the D and a defensive hit was awarded.

It woke SMHC up and Stephenson and Ainsley on the wings provided early threats and Smith in a central position was always a handful. The breakthrough game half way into the half when a good short corner routine found it's way around the away keeper and Hampton had the goal at his mercy. The Deeside defender had other ideas, however, and managed to get his foot to the ball. Clear Penalty Stroke and Souter stepped up to lift it straight down the middle.

The pressure continued and the defence, once again, stood strong. Leonard worked hard on the left with Critten and Scholes looking composed at the back. Stewart and Souter controlled the right back position between them and Deeside found it difficult to create clear cut chances. The Bees doubled their lead after a mazy run from Hampton was finished well, with a slot passed the keeper that was more difficult than the captain made it look.

Half time, 2-0 Bees.

SMHC refused to relax and continued their pressure. It could have been a lot more as Hornsby and Greenhough missed some good chances before a scuffed shot from Hampton found Stephenson on the back post to sweep in. The best was saved until last as Reid cut in from the right, dummied right, drifted past the keeper left and then tapped it home on the reverse stick. An excellent individual goal which even the away keeper congratulated him on.

The last 10 minutes saw a flurry of Deeside pressure as they searched for a goal to take home with them. A few saves from Colasurdo and more stern defending from the back 4 ensured that the Bees not only left with 3 points but a clean sheet too. With Sale HC winning 1-0, they still retain their 3 points lead but the goal difference had been cut to 5 and the Bees sit pretty in 2nd place.

Man of the Match was given to Scholes, perhaps for nearly being roadkill from an oncoming Colasurdo rush, and DoD given to Hornsby for an almost inexcusable miss at the back post!