United Services Portsmouth Hockey welcomed a Basingstoke side to HMS Temeraire. The weather was fine and both sides approached the game with gusto. Skipper James Saunders, was remarkably on time. He briefed the team that we should play more cautiously from the start than we have in previous games.

His team did exactly as was asked, and with great confidence passed the ball around the whole pitch from the start. It became apparent that Basingstoke were not used to the bouncy nature of our water based pitch. This led to them missing several opportunities to intercept play. One of those opportunities meant that US could break, and after some pinball in the Basingstoke D, once again skipper Saunders found himself in the right place at the right time, to rifle home an unstoppable shot. We went into the break with a slender 1-0 advantage.

In the second-half Basingstoke adapted better to the conditions than they did in the first half and played a very high press. Resolute defending, notably from Chris Glover, kept an increasingly frustrated Basingstoke side at bay.

A change of formation towards the end of the game, a signal that we would be happy to take the 1-0 win, and despite some nervy moments, United Services Mens 2XI managed the game to its conclusion.

After the game, Chris Parry said; “We must learn to express ourselves in the right places on the pitch, all this fancy stuff doesn’t do us any favours while we are in a defensive posture."
Next week the naval experts in our side will be happy to take to the water as we visit the Isle of Wight

Mens 1XI Vs. Bournemouth 3rdXI

On a fresh overcast afternoon, after a “30 minute” journey we arrived with a few looking worse for wear. After lacing bullets at Ben Organ, he was unstoppable and that followed through into the game ahead. Jamie Martin losing the toss was the only battle we lost today, (start practicing during the week Jamie). From the off, United Services piled on a powerful press against an ageing Bournemouth defence, with the pressure finally mounting, Elliott dribbled round a defence of statues to make it 1-0. The battle still carried on throughout the 1st half, but Organ stood tall batting the ball away like George Pinner.

Half time 1-0.

After a positive chat at half time. United Services looked to kill the game after winning a penalty corner. Hero of the day Jon Veck, rolled back the years with an absolute stunner of a drag flick, snapping the cross bar in half along the way, making it 2-0 to us. As the "better" Ferrett, Jack, who was making a cameo appearance, took charge with excellent distribution from the back, nearly setting Callum Stoyles through on goal to put the game to bed. However this wasn’t to be, as Callum was inches away from collecting and we all know he would have snapped the second goal in the half. The game filtered out with Organ still being inspired from the warm up being the wall.

Legend of the match: Ben Organ, for his great saves

Dick of the day: Jon Veck for making the game safe.