M3 v Southgate 5A

Royston travelled to Southgate for what was always going to be a difficult match against good opposition. And so it proved.
Royston were better from the start than last week, and after spending a solid 5 minutes defending began to push back and gain territory. Thereafter the first half ebbed and flowed with neither side showing any dominance. Southgate had a goal rightly disallowed for it touching the CF's body, but half time arrived with no score and few meaningful other chances.
The second half was again evenly balanced. Royston did a better job of controlling the ball, but were often frustrated by the very solid Southgate back line. An aerial from a 16 flew half the pitch and Mike Welding ran on to the ball, drove into the D and fired past the GK to go 1-0. An excellent goal. Frustratingly, 7 minutes later, Southgate responded with an absolute cracker of their own when their Left Wing reverse stick swept the ball past Keith Markham. The result could have gone either way thereafter, but after finishing a draw both sides admitted it was a fair reflection of a good game of hockey played in an excellent spirit.