Mens 1st XI v Old Williamsonians

Worthing travelled to Rochester on Saturday to play Old Williamsonians (OWs) with the purpose to maintain their unbeaten record and the league leadership. With Warner injured Sciandro came straight back into the side; but apart from this Worthing were unchanged from last week.

In a querk of the fixtures this season Worthing are following their main rivals Eastbourne each week in opposition; so it is an interesting barometer in terms of form and results.

With Eastbourne beating OWs last week 5-2 and the quote on OWs website  - It is fair to say that Eastbourne, when they play the kind of hockey they did against OWs in the 1st half of the game to take a 3-0 lead, are the best side in the league.

Captain Ansell had little need to motivate the team.

The game started in feisty fashion with Worthing struggling to get to grips with the physical presence of the OWs midfield and defence. OWs dominated the first 10 minutes as Worthing struggled to get any rhythm to their play and were stunned to go a goal down from a SC, with Binns stopping the initial strike the ball went behind him and the clearance from the under pressure defence, fell to an OWs forward who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Worthing regained some of their composure and with good attacking play down the right from Burriss, Sawyer and Williams inroads were starting to be made. Worthing were soon level, with the OWs keeper throwing his glove at the ball the umpire awarded a PF that was deftly tucked away by Humphries. Captain Ansell then made his 10 minute first half cameo to devastating effect, his deft touch at the top of the D guided the ball beautifully to the CF; his first time shot was parried by BINNS but the rebound was tucked away by his unmarked partner. Worthing were now 2-1 down. Captain Ansell decided to have a break soon after this!!!!

Worthing continued to struggle in making the final ball count in OWs 25, both Williams and Burriss had plenty of the ball but could not thread it through a tightly packed OWs defence. Finally with a SC won, Shepherd tucked the ball straight through the keeper’s legs…..parity at last.

Half Time 2 – 2.

At half time the talk was all about what OWs were doing well and what we had to negate that…..another set of good directions from Captain Ansell set the template for a brilliant second half performance. After a poor first half Ginnaw started to press forward and exploit the gaps in the OWs defence with his pace and strong running down the left, the same is said of Burriss who had much more success on the right. The constant pressure from Worthing started to tell; with OWs getting ground down by the pace of the Worthing attacks; they became more physical and desperate resulting in a yellow card for the defender who chopped down Atkinson in the 25.

Goals from Atkinson, Sawyer, Ginnaw and Burriss completed a great second half display. The only blot was a late yellow card for Burriss after falling out with his OWs opposite number, for which they both took the long walk.

Full Time 2 – 6.

It makes you think……. with Ben, Joel and Grant all getting on the score sheet you might wish it was Australia Day every Saturday. Next week Worthing entertain Herne Bay at St Andews.

Squad: Binns, Shepherd, Godber, Beales, Williams, Sciandro, Ginnaw, Burriss, Sawyer, Atkinson, Ramiz, Ansell, Humphries.