Fledglings beat MK in nine goal thriller

Leighton Buzzard Fledglings 5-4 Milton Keynes Samurai

In the classic clichéd “game of two-halves” a resilient Fledglings side held their nerve to come out top in a nine-goal thriller. Standing up to an abrasive start from the opposition, the Fledglings got the better of the first half. Leighton scored the opener when James Trumper, picked up Peter Gale’s pass, turned on the edge of the “D” and in one fluid movement fired a reverse strike into the top of the goal past the keeper’s outstretched left hand.

With Dan Lambert’s superbly accurate passing, the Fledglings doubled their advantage. Lambert fired in a ball for Gale, who in the words of David Coleman “opened his legs and showed his class” as, back to goal he deflected the ball between his legs and past the stranded MK keeper. Back came MK….

The decisive keeping of Daniel Koolman stopped MK scoring. But eventually even he was unable to stop the away side making it 2-1. Leighton resumed the attack. With Adrian Gotzheim unstoppable in midfield, the Fledglings passed the ball into the MK “D”. Following a succession of saved shots, Trumper calmly converted with a hit low to the keeper’s right. The energy and effort of Leighton’s wide players, Tom Handley and Tom Rudden, ably supported by Luis Acosta, gave the home side width and pace in attack. They fashioned an opportunity down the right hand side, as the cross came in Trumper got to the ball first and his skillful touch played the ball to Gale who slapped the ball over the keeper, for a 4-1 half-time lead.

Leighton knew MK would come back at them but early signs were good when the Fledglings were awarded a flick for an MK foot stopping the ball on the line. But an outstanding save from the young MK keeper prevented Leighton increasing their advantage. It was a turning point; MK upped their noise and aggression. Swarming all over Leighton, like a host of angry gnats they started to bite away at the Leighton lead, reducing the arrears and then levelling following a short corner strike and two other goals.

With all results possible it was vital that Leighton stayed calm. Tony Farnfield and Daniel Metcalfe, were disciplined and very measured in defence, snuffing out any MK chances. Howard Gregory showed how well he can read a game by consistently, winning the ball and carrying it away from danger. With minutes left it was Leighton’s captain Terry Cavender who started the move that lead to Leighton’s winner. He won the ball on the edge of the home side’s “D” and passed on to Lambert. Lambert’s sharp pass to Gotzheim was matched by a fantastic ball out of defence and into space on the right hand side. Second half substitute, David Jackson, raced on to Gotzheim’s pass. In classic forward play he drove the back line and pulled the ball back for “Hero Handley” to score as the sound of ball smashing into backboard echoed round the Vandyke arena.

“Alan Turning, Deli Ali, Iain Stewart, Pete Winkelman, those cows, Marshall Amps, Mark Lancaster, Greg Rutherford…your boys took one hell of a beating!”. Well not really, in a game of fine margins, with outstanding displays by the young keepers of both sides, it was Leighton who just about deserved the win but well done to both sides for producing a great hockey game.

Final score: 5 - 4 Leighton Fledglings win
Player(s) of the Match: Daniel Lambert, Daniel Metcalfe, Daniel Koolman