Mens 1's vs Whitchurch A

The men's 1st XI bounced back from a disappointing trip to Cardiff last week with a resounding home win against top 4 side Whitchurch A.

Swindon are notorious for starting games well, however this week saw the home team afford their visitors some early possession with some poor passing. Whitchurch capitalised, the ball being worked across the Swindon circle before being tapped in on the back post. Veteran goalkeeper Alan Gough rolled back the years, singlehandedly keeping Swindon in the game with first an impressive double save from a short corner, before pulling off a tremendous one on one save.

The hosts gained composure, and started to play some good hockey. Minutes after falling behind, Swindon levelled the game. Chris Parsons took a quick free hit to Jim Towers on the edge of the circle, before Towers played in Phil Scarisbrick, who showed his defender a clean pair of heels before popping the ball on to Luke Cejer, before the captain deftly flicked the ball over the goalkeeper.

1-1 quickly became 2-1 to the home side, with Henry Cheney doing some great work down the right. He found Cejer again, who took the ball across the top of the circle before driving the ball goalward on the reverse... Towers ran across the line of the ball, deflecting it beyond the unsighted goalkeeper for the go ahead goal.

Swindon continued to play well, with Jonathan Atterbury and Pete Gilbert offering excellent attacking support and picking off Whitchurch attacks early with some fantastic stepping. The half finished 2-1 with the home side very much in the ascendency.

Though Swindon huffed and puffed, they failed to get that illusive 3rd goal to kill the game, despite a number of good chances, particularly for Cejer, who scuffed a penalty flick among other glorious opportunities. Eventually, with seconds left, Cheney drove the circle from the right, before finding Scarisbrick. Scarisbrick held onto the ball, running it onto Cejer's stick, who scooped it on to Steve Dixon. With composure, Dixon lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, settling the game.

Next week, we visit Firebrands A of Bristol, who we shared a goalless draw with at home earlier in the season.

MOM: Jon Atterbury, fantastic defending, best right back in the club.
DOD: Luke Cejer, flick, aerial, basically kept firing balls over the fence instead of at the goal.