Last Saturday, Ross Men's A team took on Bourton and Sherbourne A in the Davis Wood Hereford and Gloucester League Division Two encounter and beat them.

Andy Cross has been a stalwart of the club since he first played as a teenager. Now second team captain, all of his many virtues were on display in this game.

He dribbled the ball to the opposition backline before cutting back an inch perfect pass for the well-positioned Edward Goldsmith to slot home Ross' opening goal. Despite a crunching tackle from behind, he had the strength and skill to turn into the visitor's 'D' only to be tripped as he prepared to shoot; he then scored from the resultant penalty flick.

His was the penultimate pass in a flowing Ross move that saw Kieran Brann net Ross' third.

In between, he had provided tactical savvy, inspirational words and tireless effort. Mr Cross is a consummate player of the game.

Towards the end of the first half, Cross went for a 50-50 ball with an opponent and the two became entangled. Both reached for their handbags, and in the ensuing melée barged into each other, his shoulder to Andy's temple. He writhed on the ground clutching his head. Umpire John Setchfield took a dim view of this episode and sent both off until they had calmed down.

Bourton and Sherbourne could not really afford to be further weakened as one of their number had already limped off. He only returned much later to be marked by Gareth Hughes who must have felt more like a hospital orderly than a hockey player.

In fact Sherbourne still created chances, albeit their forwards were off-colour and would have struggled to hit a barn door with a banjo; George Goldsmith had little to do and the Ross defence of Brian Clare, Greg Weston and Edward Peck were relatively untroubled.

The Ross midfield was graced by a rare appearance from Pete Jenkins, and he fed raking passes to Alistair Williamson, Adam and Sean Couch and Rodri Morris.

Overall, this was an efficient Ross performance made memorable by Cross, who was duly voted South Herefordshire Motorcaravans Ltd Man of the Match.