beat West Hampstead 9 - 1

Maidenhead posted their biggest win of the season with a 9-1 thumping of West Hampstead on Saturday. The pressure of pushing for a promotional playoff spot did not seem to affect the players as they started with a quick tempo and quickly took the lead. They maintained pressure throughout to ensure West Hampstead had no chance of getting into the match.

Maidenhead started well and were soon ahead with their first short corner of the game. The strike from Paul Brown was well saved but rebounded out to Pat Knight at the top of the D. He reacted quickly, taking an excellent first touch, and smashed the ball back into the net before the goalie had a chance to react.

Another short corner quickly followed and Dan Bradley was on hand to drag-flick it into the top left corner. Pat Knight soon added to the total as he found space in the D after some good build up work and fired past the West Hampstead keeper.

Despite finding themselves comfortably ahead, Maidenhead were caught on the counter as West Hampstead scored their opener. A quick break was well taken as Niko Glaschamer found himself in the D with just the keeper to beat. He managed to drag it to one side and pass it into the corner before the goalie could get down to it.

However, it wasn’t long before the three goal cushion was restored after some terrific build up play through the Maidenhead midfield. The ball was worked up from right back to Pat Knight making a run. He slapped the ball infield to Dan Bradley who returned to Pat who had made a run into the D. He took it around the keeper to fire it towards the empty goal. A West Hampstead player blocked the shot with his body and the penalty stroke was awarded. Dan Bradley stepped up and comfortably converted.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Dan Bradley completed a hat-trick with another short corner drag. This was soon followed by another goal from Alexei Vink. Carl Ferrand had pushed up from the back and slapped a well disguised pass towards the goal with Vink diving in to divert it past the keepers head and into the net.

The goals continued to flow after work up the left flank. The ball was crossed in to the returning Tim Durance who took and touch then reverse-shot the ball past the onrushing keeper, recording Maidenhead’s seventh goal. Dan Bradley grabbed his fourth of the day, taking him fifth in the MBBO Regional First Division top goal scorers. He took the ball past two defenders before finishing from an impossibly tight angle.

Tim Durance finished off the demolition with a well taken deflected goal. Captain Ferrand found himself in advanced position again and fired the ball towards the top of the D. Durance guided the ball up into the top right hand corner and the goalie had no time to move towards it.

Maidenhead will hope to return after the Easter break with Bradley and Knight in the same blistering form of recent weeks. Ferrand’s side are producing brilliant hockey and have an excellent opportunity to make the promotional playoffs.