Bees deliver some Higher Education

After the disappointment of a late cancellation by Urmston the week before the Bees rocked up to Salford Uni with a team struggling for position players. A quicker return from injury for keeper Dean Colasurdo was one of the positive notes and he was needed in what was a brilliant contest of hockey.

Aware that against a set of young students the pace would be high, the Bees prepared with the knowledge it maybe a heavy defensive day. Holmes returning to centre back was partnered at the start with Critten, with Leonard and Ainsley at fullback. Lamb had the presence of Bally and Hampton in the middle with him with the returning and renamed Smidge on one side and Rigby the other with Greenhough once again leading the line. Stewart and Tharaken waited on the sideline.

The game started with heavy pressure from Salford and repeated attacks where thwarted by excellent keeping including a one on one wobbly legs fake out reminiscent of Liverpool's European cup victories from Colasurdo and some acrobatic stick skills from Leonard. However something had to give and eventually a Salford striker ghosted his way through the D and scored after about ten minutes. The Bees shocked into waking up relieved the pressure almost immediately with Smidge beating the fullbacks at will but without the much sought goal. A session of short corners from the Bees failed to find a goal before a fine passage of passing from Hampton and Greenhough led to the inform striker scoring. Greenhough would then score again with a great piece of determination when surrounded in the opposition D he found enough space to place a reverse stick shot into the back of the net.

Critten unfortunately injured just prior to the goal was substituted with Ainsley taking his place at Centre back and Stewart taking over at fullback. This switch led to Salford equalising when a long ball over the top was miscontrolled by the young defender allowing the opposing striker the opportunity to win the ball and hit it mid air past an unfortunate keeper.

2-2 at the break and the Bees looked the stronger side out of the blocks. The Salford forwards finding it tough to breakdown the Bees defence and their physical style was matched and bettered by the fitter South Manchester men. Both sides saw chances but the best of them came and went to Hampton who missed three times over the course of the game before snatching victory in the last ten minutes. Great play from the defence allowed a counter attack with Greenhough playing in Smidge who passed to Hampton who scored the toughest of all his chances.

Even with the constant rotation of midfielders protecting the backline it was a tiring final 10 for the Bees. Some of which was helped by one of the Salford umpires talking back to the Umpire and receiving a yellow card. Still it was the tactics of captain Hampton that gave the defence a brief respite and allowed for Ainsley who suffered a gash to the eye after coming to close to a stick to return to the game. Maybe he was still seeing double however as he gave away a short corner with seconds left to play. However Colasurdo's vision was perfect and he used his umpiring experience to further help the cause with some expert knowledge of the rules. The Bees held on for what was a physical battle. Most if not all of the players ended up on the floor at one point but there was a good spirit in the match and more importantly 3 points against a tough side.

A great performance and further indication that the fitness of the South Manchester Men is improving as they continued to go deep in a game and result.