Upminster Mens 3rd team welcomed the visit of Old Southendians on Saturday aiming for a win and push the U’s into the security of mid-table.
In the early stages of the game both teams seemed a little tentative to push players forward and play was condensed to the middle of the pitch. A couple of PCs were well defended from the U’s which kept the scores level until an Old Southendians player found some space inside the ‘D’, the initial shot was blocked but the rebound fell kindly and he made no mistake 2nd time in asking. With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Upminster set off in search of an equaliser but a few half chances flashed wide of the visitors goal left the U’s trailing at half-time.
With stand-in skipper Hilson sidelined for this game, he had his chance to step in at half-time and rally the U’s around. There may have been a few explicits in the half-time team talk but this was rewarded when DOTM Jacob Fortune broke forward to win a PC and this was converted at the back post from MOTM Joel Munday. Upminster were right back in the game now and looked bright on the break and tiring legs on both sides started to show as space opened up all over the pitch. But it was Old Southendian who went ahead once more when another well worked PC was tapped home from their attacker.
With around 10 minutes remaining a lovely piece of midfield interchange between Hodges & Bonner released Green into space on the right hand side of the pitch. A delightful diagonal hit across the ‘D’ was superbly deflected in from Munday at the back post.
With time running out both teams seemed happy enough with a draw in what was a well tempered game of Hockey. Upminster travel to Braintree next weekend in search for a victory and 3 more points in the bag.
MOTM – Munday
DOTM – Fortune
