Ross Hockey Club's A team gave an uncharacteristically subdued display in last Saturday's N4 Financial Solutions Hereford and Gloucester League Division Two fixture against a very good Cleevillians A.
Perhaps the midweek defeat against Cirencester rocked their emerging confidence. Even so, Ross would have expected to take control of the match, especially after they took the lead after 15 minutes through an excellent Tom McCluskey strike, from a superb cross by Adam 'the beard' Crouch.
Regretfully, Ross had climbed the peak and things rapidly went downhill. Cleevillians piled on the pressure and in spite of a heroic rearguard action from defenders, Tony Faulkner, Sean Couch, Gareth Hughes, and recently promoted Brian Clare, the opposition broke through as the half drew to a close.
With the scores now level, Captain Chris Chalk tried to rally his ailing troops for a final stand. Midfielders, Richard Harbottle, Andy Cross, James Adamson and Richard Stewart, made valiant attempts at stopping the tide, but too often Cleevillians won possession in advantageous areas and simply flooded forward to overwhelm the defence.
It was at this pivotal moment, with a rare Ross attack, that what can only be described as a 'moment of madness' from Charlie Exton, resulted in Ross playing most of the remaining match a player short. Despite Seb Sullivan in goal having another one of his usual outstanding displays, even saving a penalty flick, he was powerless to stop three quick goals.
Brian Clare was voted South Hereford Motorcaravens man of the match for a respectable debut.