10th Oct 2020 Mens 2nd v Boston Spa 1s(Away) 3 - 3 draw
Ben Rhydding travelled to Boston Spa hoping to carry on last year's success of winning their first game of the season against the same opposition. The game started promisingly for Rhydding after a short corner was fired in by Ian Thomas at left slip, back to Matt Powell for a deflection into the netting. This lead did not last long, however, with Boston Spa converting a short corner given away by Mark Horsman, which became a theme throughout this game.
Frustration at letting their lead slip was evident when Andrew Lorimer was sent off for two minutes, that turned into about four and a half thanks to some dodgy timekeeping. When Rhydding were finally back to eleven they had a chance to take back the lead. However, they lost possession and Boston Spa were looking dangerous on the counter attack before the usually faultless captain made an uncharacteristic error by completely missing the ball when trying to clear and instead took a sizeable chunk out of the opponent's stick, consequently earning himself a two minute rest. Following the skipper's return, the next phase of play was controlled and soon the lead was taken back with Lorimer again in the thick of the action, converting a customary reverse stick shot into the bottom corner. Rhydding looked in control and dangerous, likely to increase the advantage, until Boston Spa’s quick breakaway lead to a couple of short corners which where saved off the line by Josh Till. The pressure got too much for Rhydding as they conceded just before half-time to make it 2-2.
After the half-time team talk, Rhydding made a bright start, having numerous dangerous attacks by playing off each other in triangles but giving the ball away cheaply in places. Dominating possession and causing problems for the home sides defence, it didn't take long for MotM Thomas to slot home Rhydding's third from a short corner.
The next twenty minutes were steady, with both sides unable to break through stubborn defences. This calmness came to an abrupt end when Horsman yet again gave away a short corner by misstrapping a substandard pass from Ibison, who was himself stitched up by an awful pass by Powell. Boston Spa subsequently equalised from a strike from the top, beating the dive of a despairing Will Benedickz.
There were 10 minutes left in the encounter and it was end to end stuff. Both sides could have won the game, with Rhydding being the more deserving of the two. A bright moment of play came from Hagan down the left wing earning a long corner. It was played quickly by Thomas and Lorimer let it go through his legs without telling anyone and it trickled over the line for a 16. Something to work on in training! This led to another sharp passage of play from Boston Spa, earning themselves another short corner given away by another misstrap from Horsman for the third time this game. Thankfully for him nothing came from it, apart from his Dick of the Day award!
The heavens opened as the game came to a conclusion, a 3-3 draw. Lots of things to take away from the game and to work on ahead of next week's home game at 3pm v Sheffield Bankers 3s.
Written by Mark Horseman
Edited (heavily - he thought 'deservable' was a word) by Tom Ibison