Mens 3s vs Sunderland Broom 2s

There are two main parts of hockey. First: the passing moves, the skills, the flicks, the deft touches, the precise jab tackles: the technical abilities. In short, the light side of the game – the kind of attractive, free-flowing matches that you watch at the Olympics or European Championships.

But there’s another side – the dark side. Games are littered with fouls, stick tackles, shoves, elbows, blocks and occasionally even aggressive confrontation. When faced with ‘the dark arts’, you can’t always play lovely hockey. Sometimes you have to go more direct.

Sunderland arrived at “The Fortress” full of confidence, and Jesmond were forced to endure several scares from a robust opposition side. From the off, Sunderland were launching powerful hits deep into our half, sending wingers into space, beating defenders (not physically, of course). Truth be told, Jesmond struggled to cope with the onslaught, and time and again goals were only prevented by superb tackles from centre-backs James Milne and Toby Stock. In fact, although Sunderland had most of the possession, ‘keeper Ben Redpath had just one save to make – though several shots drifted just wide of his posts. And as an opposition striker shaped to shoot, he fell to the ground under pressure from George Hampton. The referee was quickly petitioned by several Sunderland players – a shoulder-barge was mentioned – but no penalty flick was given. On another day it might have been.

However, this decision began to foster resentment against the referees from both sides, and the end of the half was punctuated by niggly fouls and stick tackles, with each decision vigorously argued over. Meanwhile, a shot from around the penalty spot was swept onto the post by a Sunderland player, with the goal at his mercy. Half-time came with Jesmond barely having threatened, with only a couple of decent crosses from Chris Ferrier and scuffed shots to show for our considerable efforts.

But with the advent of the second period we were much improved. Although our 4-2-3-1 formation did not change, several substitutions gave Jesmond new vigour and energy and immediately gaps began to open around the pitch. The wing-backs, George Hampton and Will Green, found themselves with acres of space to ‘rampage’ into (as one man-of-the-match vote stated!) and the midfield – especially the superb Patrick Smeal - began to play through balls in between players, rather than straight into Sunderland sticks as in the first half. However, the pattern of small and not-so-small fouls continued and one of these incensed the otherwise excellent Pete Walls so much that he was sent to the sideline for dissent. Soon afterwards Sunderland had probably their best opportunity of the game, when Redpath sublimely tipped the ball around the post, as it looked destined for the bottom corner. A series of long corners followed which Jesmond defended well and we broke clear; the ball fell to Jacob Ravenhall but he couldn’t get past their keeper, and a few minutes on Jack Johnstone found himself in the clear. As he raced towards their goal he knocked it round the Sunderland goalie – but his touch was too heavy, and he couldn’t quite finish.
The game grew more and more end-to-end and Sunderland finally got the ball in the back of the net – albeit after the whistle had been blown twice for a foul. With Jesmond playing an increasingly high line, most of the later action was restricted to the opposition half, with the midfield and wing-backs excellently containing Sunderland. (A recurring feature of this stage was the flapping shin-guards of Will Green as he repeatedly raced down the left flank. He later received a fine for this breach of etiquette.) With a Jesmond short corner in the dying moments of the match, the stage was set for a dramatic finale but the shot was spectacularly blocked by defenders. It wasn’t meant to be. But great fun was had by all – even by manager Grant Folley, who this week managed to restrain himself from making an appearance as a player! The point was a good one, well-fought, and well-deserved. Well played JPC 3s.

By Will Green