Deeside edge thriller

What do you get when you cross a Tiger with a Pig??

No not something from a laboratory but an action packed 7 goal thriller on the outskirts of Birmingham. Barford Tigers who lost their first game 2-1 to Didsbury Northern welcomed a Deeside team who let a win slip out of their trotters with a 3-3 draw against Wakefield. Two things are guaranteed with a trip to Barford and that is exciting attacking hockey and a good curry - neither disappointed!

A forced change for Deeside (Chris Barber pulling a muscle just in time for his stag do) saw returning captain Warwick Ryan-Beswick joined up front by Ali Ghazanfar. The team also welcomed back Graham ‘monkey’ Allwood for his 5000th first team cap after what he described as a delightful break in the Lake District last week.

The game started at a fast pace on a water-based pitch that could only be described as wetter than Tom Daley’s trunks following the Autumnal downpours the country has been enjoying. Barford broke into the barely visible D within the first few minutes with a crash ball deflected towards the top left hand corner – the home crowd’s celebrations were premature however as Deeside’s goalie, Jimmi ‘I don’t mind wearing pink’ Hill, leapt like a salmon returning home to spawn to deflect the ball over the crossbar. Moments later the pink salmon, intent on showing off his backhand skills, inexplicably kept a loose ball alive and passed neatly to the home centre forward who gratefully rounded the now stranded GK to slot the ball home. Nine minutes gone 1-0 to the Tigers.

The game was now end to end - Barford trying to expose Deeside with fast counter attacks usually off the back of Deeside trying to force the ball. Deeside did manage to create chances as they always do and two penalty corners fell to the ever youthful Ali Ghazanfar which he graciously let the keeper save. The young Barford GK made a smart lunge save from a Warwick Ryan-Beswick snap-shot to keep his team ahead.

Barford extended their lead on 24 minutes through another quick counter attack leading to the Tiger’s Argentinian midfield “mini Maradonna” receiving a quick through ball into the D which he duly mistrapped allowing him to then pop the ball neatly over the advancing keeper into the vacant goal. Deeside’s defence were nowhere to be seen!

Half time came with the score at 2-0 but Deeside believed they were well in this game!

That bubble was soon burst as 6 minutes into the second half Barford Tigers won a penalty corner which was slammed into the bottom corner. Deeside were not to be beaten though and despite a 3-0 deficit hit back 3 minutes later winning another penalty corner of their own which Ghazanfar, this time, expertly dispatched down the keepers left hand side. The pig was well and truly out of the sty by this point as some fast hands by Harry Dodd-Moore led to Deeside’s 2nd goal closely followed 3 minutes later by some fast thinking by Neil Worrall as he darted in front of both the Barford defender and GK to deflect the Ramblers equaliser.

Ramblers had taken control of the game now and a further goal seemed inevitable. The winner duly came in the 66th minute after a retaken penalty corner. The first attempt appeared to be saved on the line by a Barford foot. After several minutes of debate (and a useful anatomy lecture from Joe Wright explaining the different sounds a stick and body make when contacted by a hard ball) the umpires plumped for another penalty corner rather than a stroke. Fortunately for Deeside it didn’t matter as Ghazanfar secured his second goal of the game lobbing past a hapless keeper’s left hand. Remarkably, Deeside were now in the lead!

Fairy tales sometimes have a curl in the tail piggy style and with 2 minutes to go Barford breached the Deeside defence to win a penalty corner. Surely Deeside’s comeback efforts weren’t going to be wasted?! The travelling supporters were not disappointed however as Hill, looking like a huge Marshmallow in the Deeside goal, expertly deflected the tame dragflick past his right-hand post with the inside of his left leg. A technique he’s clearly been working on at training. So 3 points secured for Deeside!

Next up for Deeside is the visit of Didsbury Northern on Sunday 13th October 13.30 start.