League: Brighton Panthers 6 – 8 Milton Keynes
Giles Cuddy’s six goals and a well deserved man-of-the-match vote was obviously a key factor in this win but it was a true team performance and continues MK’s 2017 winning streak.
MK took a strong but small 11-man squad down to the south coast. In reality this was 10.5 men as Ben Amos was severely tired and hungover after getting in at 4am. He’s our regular face-off midfielder and it’s proven that a couple of face-off battles can cure any hangover, so he was soon into the groove, only occasionally reverting back to zombie mode.
Brighton had the upper hand after the first quarter with a 2-1 lead. MK had plenty of the ball but struggled early on in penetrating the Brighton back line. During the second quarter MK got a grip on the game, scoring three goals and finding the match-up’s in midfield to threaten the goal. As the Brighton defence adjusted to our midfield threat, it gave our attackers a little more time and space which Giles capitalised on. He finished off some nice team interplay and was first to many loose balls in and around the crease.
Brighton fought back in the third and levelled the game at 5-5. Ben Amos comfortably won the D-of-the-day vote for his hangover plus he spilled the ball on a clear right in front of the MK goal, gifting Brighton an unmissable shot in the third quarter which helped their cause. Aaron Day was also in the running for the award thanks to realising only at the start of the final quarter that his lacrosse head was totally missing it’s top string, so the mesh was flapping around. Let’s hope he sorts that out before next weekend.
Midway through the final quarter, with MK holding a one-goal lead, midfielder Tom Duggan took on his Brighton defender and drove towards goal. He unleashed a shot which found the bottom corner. Brighton called a timeout. MK just needed to play sensible, low risk lacrosse, to bring home the win. Brighton had good chances late on but the MK defence and goalie held firm as the final minutes soon ticked by.
For half the squad, who had taken the train down from MK, we enjoyed our post-game beers and snacks even more than usual.
Game Stats
6:8 (2:1, 3:4, 5:5, 6:8)
MK Goals
Giles Cuddy (6)
Andy Kenyon
Tom Duggan