Gravesham and Wellcome 2s hosted Deal on a stormy day expecting to keep pressure on at the top of the league. The Captain made the point that travelling such a long way Deal were only likely to bring players really keen on their hockey and that the weather was what they were more used to so they would likely feel very much at home. GW2s would need to treat every player as though they were the best they’ve faced and play to their abilities.

The game got off with GW enjoying a moment or two at the Deal end before the ball broke and in a swift counter Richard Atwood was unable to do anything about a number 17 picking the ball up and working his way into the D for a sudden and expertly taken tomahawk into the roof of the net. One or two of these guys, strangely, seemed to have abilities a bit beyond what you might normally see in Kent Div Invicta 5.

The game proved difficult for the Gravesham side to get hold of with Steve Caulfield, Jordan Jenkins and Si Bradley all taking turns in battling their opposite numbers. Jesse Bradley and Jay Chima were offering glimpses of attacking prowess from the wide areas but without having yet established a foothold in the game the home side conceded a short corner.

Despite runner Eren Basch getting there Deal managed to get the shot off and it found it’s way against the backboard, beating an irate Dan Stapley in goal. GWHC found themselves 2-0 down and seemingly without answers.
John Booth and Sumeet Dhinsa entered the field of play, up for the challenge before them, and did their best to offer some of those answers.

A break-away from the right found Jenkins who’s first touch took him around a defender before he floated the ball to an advancing Ollie Simpson. The in-form youngster one-touch slotted the ball into the far corner and beyond the static keeper. 2-1 and it was game on!

Minutes later, with great work from Caulfield, Jenkins had an effort saved on the line – from a defenders foot – penalty flick!
Up stepped Andy “Simmo” Simpson, feeling a bit upset having been on a bit of a goal drought by his high standards, to pass the ball into the bottom left corner and to ensure the home side would go into half time on level terms.

At half time Captain Aaron Elliott focused on the lower performance that the first half had seen and demanded improvements in both calling and passing. The team also sought to aid this by asking the 3 central players to tuck in towards each other a little closer as a way of ensuring Deal were not beating them one at a time and so GW could more easily gain control of the middle of the park.

The second half started with both teams vying for control – Nav Tung getting high on the left in support of the home sides attacking efforts but nothing would come of it.

A break saw the Deal number 17 enjoy a 1 on 1 with centre-back Atwood and with a bit of fifty-fifty the GW player gave away a technical foul which earned him a green card – with a card also being shown to a Deal player for verbal abuse towards the umpires.

Play was back under way with Si Bradley covering the gap at the back and Stapley saving anything that snuck through - the home side didn’t allow them being a man down to impact the game. Once Atwood returned to the field the game was about to take a turn in favour of the home side.

A quality, hard hit, through-ball from Caulfield found it’s way to Jenkins who caught Deal out with an imaginative and exquisite turn to one-touch send the ball the other way into the goal.

More pressure from Deal drew a scream from Elliott for a mistake at the back – a reflection of how delicately the game was poised – but that felt like it was the last time Deal would seriously trouble them.
One of Deals best players number 17 went down with cramp, strange.

A break up the left went through Jesse Bradley on it’s way to Ollie Simpson who spotted Elliott arriving in the D and found him with a cross. Elliott one-touched it trying to find the gap around the feet of the advancing keeper but it was saved – and with an injection of pace Elliott pounced onto the loose ball with 3 defenders and the keeper looking on helpless. 4-2! Already suffering with back problems, the twist to secure the goal (and the win?) would be the last play for their Captain in this game.

Still time for a little drama as a Deal and GW player both found themselves green carded – which would rightly earn the latter, Simmo, his teams dick of the day award.

The game represented a huge step in the team’s league title credentials, the second week in a row they have come back from going behind (to players with abilities beyond normal expectations) and they have set themselves up for what should be a thrilling encounter away to their title rivals Burnt Ash next week.

It won’t be an easy game, but they’ve shown they have the tools to go and get a result.

Man of the match – Jay Chima.