Ross Men's Hockey A side lost 2 - 0, on Saturday, in their N4 Financial Solutions encounter with Hereford and Gloucester League Division Two leaders Gloucester City 'C'.
It would be misleading to suggest that Gloucester were not the finer exponents of the technical skills of hockey during this match; they were. However, they were looking no more likely to break down the resolute Ross defence than some other top of the table teams this season when they were awarded a penalty flick as an umpire judged that one of the visiting defenders had kicked the ball in making a last ditch clearance out of the 'D'.
One down, against a better team, in the pouring rain, in the gathering gloom, in Gloucester, with three-quarters of the game to go, with no realistic chance of equalising. Not an enticing prospect. The heads of lesser teams would have gone down; but not Ross. They kept shape, discipline and cool and battled on, only conceding one more goal and one green card mid-way through the second half. Losing their six match unbeaten run was disappointing, but in many ways this counted as a moral victory
Ross squad: Seb Sullivan, Greg Weston, Tim Jones, Tony Faulker (Man of the Match), Edward Peck, Gareth Hughes, Richard Stewart, Richard Harbottle, Ben da Cunha, Tom McLuskie, Charlie Exton, Andy Cross, Geraint Morris, Chris Bargh.