Outnumbered from the off!

A select Bourne 11 traveled for a breakfast time start in Cambridge. Undeterred by this and the 16 man squad that faced them, the start was pleasing. Slow and steady by both teams, patience being the operative word, was an ideal way to open up combat for the visitors.

Eliot Bates and Mark Hotchkin padded out the middle of the pitch and forced cambs city wide, who’s attacks were capably dealt with by the Bourne full backs in Mark Mowbray and Karl Taylor. It’s fair to say that cambs city did have the better of the first 20 minutes but a soft open wing goal was tough on the visitors. Dan Burge and Tommy Armitage up front had relatively few chances in the opening exchanges and the team, when presented with opportunities failed to execute with any menace. Towards the closing part of the half another poor goal was conceded and a tough fight back was the only option after the interval.

Early in half 2, Mark Hotchkin took advantage of a rebound from a short corner and the game was back in the mix. 2-1 down with a good lump of the half to play was too much to ask against a younger team and one with bountiful resources. Cambs city pressured and were rewarded with several penalty corners of which 2 were converted despite the best efforts of Ed Sarsby and Jack Langley.

The running of Nick Teesdale and Davin Foston in the wide slots of the set up was relentless and there will be a number of sore muscles in the morning. We move on to the next challenge.