Monarchs get off to a flying start

The Monarchs made perfect start to the new season with a very impressive performance away against Leighton Buzzard. The team lined up with a new 3-5-2 formation with an focus on getting men forward to attack the opposition, which worked extremely well from the very first minute. A sweeping attack led to a shot being stopped by a LB defender on the line and Viren converted the penalty flick to give the team the lead within 5 minutes. What then followed for the rest of the half was wave after wave of attacking hockey with both Clint on the right and Gavin on the left making good use of the wings and moving the ball in consistently to Tim and Chad who were both getting into some great scoring positions. Both Tim and Chad bagged 2 goals apiece before half time with great supporting work from the centre of midfield from James and JC who were picking up the ball in space and distributing effectively. It was much of the same in the second half although LB did start to make some inroads into the Monarchs defence but the 3 centre backs marshalled this well and kept the attacks to a minimum. Tim and Chad both found the net twice again each with a particularly good short corner conversion by Chad. The Monarchs welcomed new keeper Sean to the team and in his first match for the club he was called upon to face a penalty flick when the umpire adjudged an LC goal-bound shot to have been stopped by a foot on the line. Sean dived well to his right to make the save and protect an important clean sheet. This was a superb effort from all involved in the match and Nick put in a man of the match performance from the left side of the centre backs, moving up and filling gaps in the centre of midfield when needed and finding the forward players. Great start to the season. Next up for the Monarchs is a home match v Aylesbury.