A game of... 50 mins and 20 mins!

Playing Didsbury Northern is always a game that SMHC relish and often produces close encounters and this one was no exception.

The Bees, with a few absentees in Smith (work), Afonje (work) and Blackwood (illness) amongst others started the game in energetic form and it did not appear that this was their first competitive game since early December. Despite a frantic start, it was the Queen Bee himself who put SMHC 1-0 when an innocent looking ball into the D from Greenhough was deflected in by Hampton. The away team seemed unhappy with the decision and claimed back stick but the umpire saw otherwise.

Didsbury, buoyed by this and Scholes, Leonard, Souter and Stewart were all strong at the back, helped by Bottomley in Defensive Midfield, as the away team piled on the pressure. The closest, however, was a sscuffed shot which clipped the outside of the post and went wide.

The Bees doubled their lead when good play on the right from Ainsley meant he found space in the D to move. He played a simple ball across for Stephenson to sweep in his first of the day at the back post. Stephenson scored perhaps the pick of the days goals when he was through one on one with the keeper before sweetly sweeping it near post to make it 3-0 just moments before half time.

The pressure did not relent in the second half as Stephenson scored another 2, Rigby scored with a nice finish into the corner and Ainsley scored with a tap in that some say may have been sneaking in anyway. 7-0 up and the Bees were wondering if they could cut into Sales goal difference advantage. However, concentration slipped all over the field and players became very goal greedy instead of the usual selfless passing, disciplined play that has led to so many good results. Didsbury finally got on the score-sheet as a short corner hit Stewarts foot on the line for a stroke. Colasurdo was unlucky not to save it as he managed to get his stick to it but not enough as it deflected onto the inside of the post and in.

Didsbury began to play with a bit more freedom and combined with the lack of tracking back and the panic on defence, the away team scored another short corner routine. And when a deflected Souter shot crept in to make it 7-3, Didsbury just had a little glimpse at the time to see if a comeback was possible. Another short corner made it 7-4 minutes before the end but thankfully, the Bees had done enough to get all 3 points.

A fantastic 50 minutes of hockey but all SMHC can learn from the 4-4 second half. With Sale beating Neston in a close 4-3 game, it looks like they are champions elect with the next few positions, and likely promotion, all to play for.