Mens 2s vs Chelmsford M1

Magpies 2s returned to the Nest after back-to-back away games hoping to win their first points of the season. They welcomed a Chelmsford team that had finished 2nd in the table last season and are no doubt looking to push for promotion this year. Mark Flatman returned to the squad after helping the 1s to a victory in the Norfolk derby the previous week and Simon Hipwell also returned to the squad after recovering from a mild cold. The squad however were without Chris Pittaway who was recovering from a rib injury sustained in a wonder full length challenge the previous week and Andy Hipwell who one assumes had just fallen out with his brother because he had borrowed his Cabbage Patch Doll and not returned it.

Luckily Magpies were buoyed by the presence of Richard Gill on the sideline. A wonderful training session in the week led by the afore mentioned Gill had gone down well and the team were hoping his support on the bench would further inspire them to a performance.

Chelmsford started the more confident, controlling possession and looking, at every opportunity, to throw aerials in behind the Magpies defence. This resulted in them winning the first short corner of the game. A fizzing drag flick left the Magpies keeper rooted to the spot but fortunately Andrew Bedwell was on the left post to superbly pick the ball off the line and clear away. Magpies soon found themselves defending a second corner. The flicker, clearly comprehending that the left postman was unpassable, aimed a flick at the opposite corner. This time the flick was again on target and beat the GK but a young Tristan Baynes was at hand to pull off an excellent (although probably marginally not quite as hard as Bedwell's) save on the line, deflecting it neatly behind. Magpies soon adapted. Coach Gill and on field General Bedwell moved the home team to sit deeper, compacting the space for the Chelmsford forwards and denying them the space in which to throw the long overhead balls. Magpies grew into the game and some good counter attacking play was on show but the killer final pass or shot was unfortunately not to be found.

Unfortunately, the second half started in the worst possible manner. A Chelmsford player slipped a couple of tackles and with the Magpies defence scrambling the ball fell to a free green shirt in the D. The forward mis hit his shot but a slight deflection from another forward diverted the ball into the far corner of the goal. Magpies were still looking to counter but Chelmsford were generally controlling the pace of play and got the buffer of a second goal that they were looking for. A neat cross over move on the edge of the D befuddled Spi Hipwell allowing the Chelmsford forward to break into the D. His shot from the byline was well saved by Nick Moss in goal but the rebound fell nicely back to the forward who showed quick reflexes in playing the ball first time to squeeze it in the goal. Magpies were looking to get on the scoresheet and apply some pressure and thought they had done so with 10 minutes to go. Baynes found himself up in the opposition D and after a small scramble lifted the ball deftly into the air over the prone gk and into the empty goal by way of the post. Unfortunately luck was not with the home side as the umpire failed to allow advantage blowing his whistle to award Magpies with a Penalty Corner before the ball dropped into the goal. Despite a crisp strike from the resulting corner a good save on the line prevented justice being dealt.

Magpies continued to push but ran out of time. Despite a fourth loss on the bounce Magpies knew they had put in their best performance of the season against a side that will no doubt be pushing for the national league. 

POTM Charlie Blandy