Friendly: Spencer 3’s 8 – 7 Milton Keynes

Another friendly game against a team from the division above us, East Division 2. Unlike our previous games against Reading 2’s, the Spencer 3’s are unbeaten this season so this was going to be a challenging game.

We travelling into London in good spirits, and left in even better ones after taking the Spencer 3’s to the edge of defeat. The game was close from start to finish as we matched up well against the more experienced opposition. We were leading 3-2 after the opening quarter and held a single goal lead at half-time. However as in previous games against higher division opponents, we wobbled in the third quarter and gave up the lead. The wobble was a combination of tiredness and inexperience. We gave up the ball too easily and starting making bad decisions when under pressure. The Londoners were 8-6 up so a good use of a time-out allowed us to re-group, collect ourselves and try to get back on level terms. We did score the last goal to make the final 8-7 to the hosts. We left the field happy knowing we can compete with the best team in East Division 2, where we should be playing next season.

After the game we walked across to their other field to watch the Spencer 1st team do battle against Hampstead, in a crunch game in the Southern Premier Division. This game could also be described as Manchester vs America. The core of the Spencer team learnt trade trade in Manchester. Hampstead have strong links with the USA. They all find themselves working or studying in London. It was great for our novice players to watch the best in action. The movement, passing, shooting, checking and all-around intensity is up 2 or 3 notches from where we play at the moment. Spencer ended up convincing winners 13-5.

Once showered and in the Spencer clubhouse we enjoyed numerous beers with the other teams before rolling back towards Milton Keynes where most enjoyed a slap-up curry at The Don outside MK railway station before a few more beers at Spoons.