Mens 3rd XI Match Reports
Mens 3rd XI lost to Henley 3s 2 - 3
With both sides residing closely together in mid-table obscurity Maidenhead travelled to Henley knowing that the game would be tight, even before the rain began making conditions trickier. They were hampered in their preparations by the withdrawal of captain Alex Bagehot, but Dave filled in more than competently in defence, while Mark again led in exemplary fashion, refusing to allow dubious umpiring to affect his game. Maidenhead took the lead midway through the first half from a close range finish by Ian.
Mens 3rd XI beat Amersham & Chalfont 4 - 3
Maidenhead 3s (“Maids”) continued their league campaign on Saturday against Amersham & Chalfont 3s (“A&C”) looking for another 3 points to follow-up their 1-0 win at Tring.
Maids started brightly and opened the scoring with their first attack of the game as James Cawthorpe’s sumptuous length-of-the-field found Nick Lloyd in acres on space at the top of the D, who coolly slotted the ball past the A&C goalkeeper for the early lead.
Mens 3rd XI beat Tring 1 - 0
In what was a less than classic game of hockey, Maidenhead 3s came away with a deserved but tense win, perhaps feeling the pressure following two consecutive defeats and facing a side that had also struggled coming up to pace at the start of the season. Trialling a more attacking 3-4-3 formation Maidenhead looked vulnerable to a counter attack in the opening phases before Karsten Smet and Mark Hutchinson began to exert some influence from the middle of the park.
Mens 3rd XI lost to Wallingford 2s 1 - 3
Maidenhead 3’s indifferent start to the season continued with a disappointing home reversal against Wallingford 2’s in a game that Maids should have won. In a scrappy opening half, chances were at a premium as Maids bossed the midfield trench-battle, but they were unable to turn good possession field position into goals, which was compounded by wasting several penalty corners. However, on the stroke of half-time, Mark Hutchinson wriggle his way past two opposing players to find the elusive gap in the Wallingford defence and rifle the ball home from the edge of the D.