Whitley Bay & Tynemouth Hockey Club

WBTHC 2 v Stockton 4

WBTHC went into this game on the back of six straight wins and still unbeaten this season. The team welcomed back top scorer Robson and gave a new player of the name of Gill a long awaited debut for the season.

WBTHC were missing a few players including the legend JT which meant that Paddy Meredith declined the opportunity to play as the great man was not going to be there. Dan Adams was away and rumour has it that he is currently in jail, and Felix Evans showed a serious lack of commitment by going to the NUFC match. Felix has now broken the record for the largest amount of fines racked up in the first half of the season ever. Heads or tails Felix if you play the next game, the decision is yours, but skipper Duncan might be having a few words if you don't pay up! ... He still owes two jugs too!

Before the game, skipper Duncan gave his customary team talk, none of which can be repeated on this website.

Now to the game itself. WBTHC completely dominated the game and should have been a few up by half time. The Stockton keeper made some world class saves from Robson and Gill. Sam Read, the WBTHC keeper kept warm by doing shuttle runs to fetch the ball from the sideline. These were the only touches he had all game. Sam's cost per touch is getting higher and higher each game (but yet still managed to get two man of the match votes!.......)

Robson got the first goal after skipper Duncan shown electric pace down the right! Robson sweeping the ball onto the corner of the net.

Half time was a mixture of dummy throwing, sulking and toys out the pram..... and that was just from Smith! The second half was much better from WBTHC. Robson bagged another from a short corner, neatly flicked into the bottom corner before Allen, who had not really had his best game, suffered from a lapse in concentration and found himself in the opposition D and knocked in WBTHC's third of the game.

Craig Duffy continued to look a very established talent at left back, showing great awareness and distribution in his play. The opposition seemed to just stand off him...... this could be due to the horrendous smell coming from his trainers!

Richard Gregory finally pulled the rug off from over his knees, put down his pipe and kicked of his slippers to score the fourth goal of the game from two yards out.

Not the best performance from the league leaders but another win all the same. Duncan's Barmy Army marches on.

MOTM: Robson
DOTD : Smith for his girly strop

WBTHC 2 (4-0) Stockton 4