GWHC2s travelled to Tunbridge wells minus their Vice-Captain Si Bradley and other notable players also missing. The team still had accolades to play for with their GK Dan Stapley targeting a clean sheet and hopefully the clubs Golden Gloves award for the season. With promotion already secured the team looked to explore opportunities and gave Jay Chima a go as ACM (where he played for the 3s the previous season) and it meant a space opening up on the wing.

With the 3s being left alone chasing their ‘Invincibles’ record and Jai Sandhu skiing, in-form Henry Elliott was selected to bring up from the Unicorns for a full game following his ‘emergency sub’ fleeting appearance 2 weeks prior.

Game started tricky with Tunbridge Wells on top for the early periods but no real chances falling to them with the GW defence ably dealing with everything coming their way.

Ollie Simpson was doing plenty of chasing back from the forward line but GW were struggling to get hold of things.
Captain Aaron Elliott had started off the pitch came on after just over 15 minutes and although not part of the play the team scored their first goal within 10 seconds of his entry. A pass from Jay Chima had found Andy Simpson for a peach of a shot into the air past the keeper that a defender attempted to clear off the line – but for Elliott Snr to scream the ball had gone over (it had) and the umpires with very little deliberation gave the opening goal.

Minutes later and another chance – great play from Stu Marnham on the right found Simpson Snr who sent the ball across the top of the D for Elliott Snr arriving to slot home; 2-0.

Not long after that and the Simpsons linked up with Ollie finding his dad Andy to slam the ball home against the backboard from near the P-spot. 3-0.

One or two decisions from the Umpires were challenged and the team was at risk of descending into an ill-disciplined game – led by their Captain Elliott Snr who had been blown as the offender despite being clattered from behind by a T Wells defender.

Half time – a chance to check themselves and emphasise the need to ride the challenges and not to give away cards for talking. This felt like the only threat to picking up a clean sheet.

Within 5 minutes of the second half commencing – the fourth goal came. Fantastic play from Jesse Bradley on the right had him running the baseline before pulling back to the p-spot for Elliott Snr to dink into the far corner right next to the post.
Momentum secured – Elliott would sub off and Andy and Jay would come on.

And suddenly – Jay Chima came to life with one of his best displays of the season.

Sured-up by a rotation of John Booth, Steve Caulfield and Sumeet Dhinsa behind him every attempt to clear the ball from T Wells now seemed to drop for Chima. The next goal coming from an attempt to clear a cross from Marnham had Chima wind up and fire a devastating shot from top left of the D into the far left top corner of the goal for a goal of the season contender. 5-0.

Another burst of play from Chima saw a half-clearance from the keeper spin Elliott Snr’s way who swept the ball into the goal for his hat-trick. 6-0.

More pressure down the right had T Wells dangerously play the ball across their own goal only for Elliott to reach the ball with his reverse stick sending it hard and high towards the net for what looked a certain goal only for the keeper to pull off one of the saves of the season managing to tip it onto the underside of the cross bar and clear it away.

A bit of defensive work required to help ensure the clean sheet had Henry Elliott harrying well on the left and chasing back under the stewardship of Chip Bradley. He was up against a player of similar age for some of the game and enjoying an excellent duel.

More danger in the T Wells D saw Elliott Snr dive on to a loose ball only for a defenders stick to arrive first and consequently the ball to his face. With 10 minutes remaining that would be the end of the Captains game.

It did allow for Ollie Simpson to get himself on the score board after more great work from Jesse Bradley along the baseline saw him shoot near post when the goalkeeper stepped away only for the clearance to drop where Simpson could send it over the line.

Unbeaten at home and firmly established 3 new youngsters at a higher level.
The result meant GWHC2s had secured 27 goals for and just 3 against in their final 4 games and firmly promoted as runners-up in the league after some tremendous team hockey across the course of the season with delightful interplay and team goals.