Match report by: Ian Kitteringham 

Team: (3-1-3-2-1) Jerry Spencer; Stu Hooker; Richard Shephard; Al Byrne; Claudio Grandi; Will Harvey; Jamie Glister; Al Harknett; Olly Grundy; Ian Kitteringham; Nick Gage. Subs Joe Allen; Mike McCallum.

Goals: Nick Gage (2), Ian Kitteringham (2)

Cards: Richard Shephard (Y), Nick Gage (G)

MoM: Nick Gage

DoD: Nick Gage

Coming off the back of a superb win and performance the week before confidence was high ahead of the late game in the back ass of nowhere on a Saturday night (What’s up with that Sydney Hockey Union??) Despite this the team all arrived looking sharp. All that is except for one car which included the author as they seemed to misjudge a few things…. “At what point should we contact Gagey and let him know that we are running late?” was a question put forward. “We’ll make it exactly 5 minutes beforehand” was the confident response from Claudio.

Anyways I digress ….The game started and Easts began the game in a very confident manner, with the entire back 4 stroking the ball about with a confidence rarely seen this season. For large spells they kept possession and picked their passes to the midfield and forwards where the movement was excellent. The front men were willing runners without the ball too, putting the pressure on the NWS defense when they had it and this pressure led to the first chance for Easts striker (and all round nice guy) Kitty as he intercepted a stray pass and charged through on goal only to shoot narrowly wide. Another chance came and went shortly after but the breakthrough was coming and indeed it did. After winning a series of short corners the breakthrough finally came with a nice, although ever so slightly deflected, effort from Kitteringham. 1-0

Easts of a few weeks back would probably have sat back and relaxed at this point but a new mentality has taken over the team lately and they continued to press, restricting the NWS team to playing long balls to that one lad who was skillful up front but who was easily dealt with by the Shephard/Grandi combination. Obviously missing Gary and his hatchet like tackles a few players decided to throw a few in resulting in a few warnings and although obviously no one quite managed to make that unique ‘timber’ noise Gary can create with his tackles the lesson was learnt and from that point on they let the hockey do the talking.

Goal 2 was coming and arrived courtesy of a lightening counter attack by Easts. (Will Harvey?) broke down a NSW move and immediately fed Captain Gage breaking down the left wing. He in turn fed Kitteringham who riffled one home from the top of the D. 2-0 and cruising.

The half time team talk was pretty simple, keep the work rate going and the game is ours. Easy you would think but immediately from the hit off we let the one dangerous player run the length of the field unchallenged and win a corner. Nothing came of it but the warning was there and Easts had to weather a storm for about 5 minutes but came through intact. Having regained their composure they then managed to increase their lead. In what one can only guess was actually probably a shot Jamie ‘1 yard’ Glister laid a great pass onto Gagey about 2 feet from the goal. With all the power he could muster he managed to hook some sort of backstick effort at the goal. The keeper must have been frightened by the scorch marks as somehow he let it through his legs, 3-0 (although really if the ball doesn’t hit the backboard/net from 2 feet it shouldn’t count).

Easts reverted to ways of old again after this letting NWS back in with a nicely taken goal of their own before upping the tempo once more and finding a forth, and equally as bizarre as the third goal, through yet again Captain Gage. Still not sure how this went in either as combined speed of both shots at goal can’t have been more than 5 kph but in it went and with it broke the remaining spirit of NWS. 4-1, the crowd was ecstatic, as were the team (all except that is the ones who were roped into staying on for the 1’s game). For the first time on a long time MOM was difficult as the whole team was superb. Bring on Manly!