Deeside Allergic to Bees!

A late start for the Bees found them in high spirits following their 4-0 destruction of the Ramblers earlier in the season at the Hive. But if the Bees headed into this game expecting to ease to victory they were sorely mistaken, a combination of a full squad and possible replacements from higher teams gave the Ramblers a much needed boost which created a fantastic game of Hockey. Both teams left everything on the pitch but in the end SMHC’s class shone through.

As the match began SMHC had an air of confidence to their play and seemed in the mood to run riot but earlier pressure subsided and Deeside grabbed a foothold in the game after about ten minutes when a rapid counter attack caught the Bees out of position leaving the Ramblers attacker one on one with Souter who would normally calmly strip the ball away and leave is opponent frustrated, but on this occasion the a nice piece of skill allowed the ball to be slipped through his legs leaving the forward to burst into the box an on rushing Colasurdo was left no chance by the smart finish Deeside 1 – SMHC 0.

The match restarted with the bees shell shocked and the game got bogged down in midfield as both teams tired to take hold of this fiercely contested game. Eventually SMHC’s class began to show with Bottomley and Smith winning the midfield battle and Ainsley and Rigby making inroads down the wings which meant the chances began to come. The Bees unfortunately found a goalkeeper in inspired form for the ramblers as he made a string of important saves to keep the score 1-0. Just as the frustration was beginning to show a great team move starting on the right with Ainsley saw patient passing around the D pay off as Hamptons through ball found Greenhough who unleashed a furious shot again saved by the Keeper only to rebound to an in form Afonja who expertly finished levelling the score just before half time. SMHC 1 – Deeside 1

As the whistle sounded for half time the frustration was still evident as players voiced the distain at the amount of missed chances, confusion between Scholes and Souter over who wanted to start 2nd half on the bench almost descended into chaos.

The 2nd half began with The Bees clearly buoyed by he half time team talk and it was not long before Deeside were pinned into their own half, the pressure built until Deeside were undone a brillaint pivot pass by stewart opening up the sapce for a mazy run by Ainsley on the right who slipped the ball into Greenhough to strike the ball first time into the keeps pads rebounding the ball free into the D both Hampton and Greenhough reacted first almost getting in each other’s way before Hampton nudged the ball into Greenhough’s path for him to strike the ball powerfully into the roof of the net leaving the opposing keeper helpless. Deeside 1 – 2 SMHC

Despite all of the SMHC’s pressure Deeside responded immediately as confusion and controversy rained before for the Deeside equaliser, SMHC 2 -2 Deeside. The game reverted to type as the midfield battle resumed with Bottomley standing up to be counted cynically(some may say clincally) winding up his opposite number whilst expertly keeping him at bay time and time again this combined by a inspired defensive performance by Leonard, Stewart , Scholes , Souter and Afonja with a cameo from Ainsley kept Deeside at bay. SMHC built on the defensive/ midfield dominance and began to search for the lead; a host of chances came and went as SMHC pilled forward near misses from Greenhough, Hampton and Ainsley nearly restored the lead, despite an inspired keeper SMHC were not to be denied. A distinctive Smith run from midfield allowed the ball to be slipped into the D for Hampton, with defenders swarming round hacking and hooking at his stick and the Umpires whistle surely about to be blown for the short Hampton managed to make enough space for a shot which he flicked into the top corner to give the bees a deserved lead, SMHC 3 – 2 Deeside.

As the game wound down there was on last scare for the Bees as the Deeside attempted one last charge a ball drilled into the D was deflected by Scholes into his own net, which again caused confusion for the umpires, after a short delay whilst the umpires consulted each other the decision was made, to the bees delight NO GOAL the score remained 3-2. From the Bees point of view justice was done but the ramblers opinion may well disagree. A feature of the Bees game this year has been to go for the throat when in the lead and finish teams off and today was no exception. The Bees swarmed forward in search of a 4th and were rewarded from a well worked short corner, Bottomley injected to Hampton who calmly slipped a pass back to Bottomley whose shot caused havoc in the opposing defence before Ainsley calmly struck the ball home to make the score SMHC 4 – 2 Deeside.
The final whistle meant that the bees had completed their first league double of the season sending the Ramblers in to anaphylactic shock and pilling on the pressure on the league leaders sale.

Man of the match was deservedly awarded to Greenhough following a close vote seeing 6 players claiming votes for the award, Dick of the day was unanimously awarded to Souter.

Next week the bees have another away fixture to an inconsistent Neston South Wirral where I’m sure they will be looking to enter the Christmas break with another convincing win.