Over a two week period, the majesty of Southend Hockey Club Mens Two's face Maldon twice - this was Game 1.

Captains' responsibility was passed to Greg on the morning of the game -- and he took to the leadership role in fine measure.

Tearing up Russ's football inspired formation 4-4-2, Greg's sketch book came alive with a fresh line-up and worked plays. pic available !!

First decision was for Toby into the CAM -- clearly, Greg thinking about that all day, and first time for Toby in that position: it worked well.
page one of ten

Toby went on to score two goals, set up distribution play-after-play, running through their defence with a picked reverse-on-sprint. A notion of established play-to-pepper-spray fear into their defensive line.
Good vision there, gentlemen: one to see the potential, the other delivers it.

Greg's team then built-up around our positive elements, and balancing the constraints to take best advantage of them. Kinda 3-2-3-2 but with the defensive mid "2" being wide front-to-back wingers. 3-4-1-2 then! Arrival to the park, and Greg communicating the plan amongst the team; a few personnel changes negotiated.

Steve Pirate GTi again stepped up as the whirlygig of positioning players came to rest -- and he boldly took to the left side of the pitch.
page two of ten

Roachie, throughout Summer League I see you defer to ensure others play. Your fine runs up and down the wing, your subs, defence, your attacks. Sacrifice and contribution to the team par excellence. It has been one of the key eye-openers for me to recognise you doing this. Apologies for singling you out here, but you are in prime winning place for the Raleigh Pioneer Bicycle Prize for this team help!!

Florescent Ian Richardson took to the right and indeed shone via his glowing ball matchy-matchy astros plus re-ignition of a spark we all know he has. A lighter AI interpretation of Tears in Rain moment for me (it wasnt raining, nor Rutger Hauer playing either, but if I did use AI in these match reports, it would somehow make the connection to something quite beautiful happening -- oh be quiet Russ ?❤️)
page three of ten

Which leads me onto the finest smelling guy in the defence. Our Norfolking Bound Centre Back, Eddie Bedini. Much prose and praise has fractalized match reports on this Paperinik gentleman, and today is no exception. Name. Drop. Heaven.
This author has personally met Romano Artioli.
He's met Romano's daughter, and resultant Lotus Elise naming. oh yes.
Yes, I saw that Lotus Esprit dropped off the top front of a car transporter...
Yes - students / apprentices awake -- you will inspire people like this !
This author used to have lunch with the Lotus Elise car designer, and when that epic auto industry guy chose his own example of the marque, he chose the same rare colour that our Eddie specified when he purchased his new.

Questions may be asked regarding...
page four of ten

...the Kerry Osborne Bedini bonding of Eddie's Elisely extruded aluminium knees, but they answered with consistency, endurance, reliable timeless design: enabling style to exude -- as well as the Christian Dior parfum. Eddie says its Rabane Phantom. Robot AI Theme again.

As Maldon attacked, Eddie displayed the grace of movement & balance only bestowed to a precious few highly honed, research & development prototype Blade Runners. Human or AI Bedini Bot, the opposition strikers shrugged wildly and sighed at-a-loss on how indeed Eddie had picked that block, and redistributed the SHC ball.

There be came several ying-yang moments where strike force emulated what they saw defenders / Eddie do...
page five of ten

...taking balls away from opposition and redistributing it in exactly the same way.

On one occasion, striker Greg re-distributing it back home to Eddie, who then pinged it into the D for a goal. It is for this reason why the England Hockey Safeguarding Awareness module is so valuable. The youth are emulating and inspired by those in positions of trust. They see what is done, copy it themselves whilst adding extra dimensions of imagination, ideas, and training.

Watching Toby tell me "its the first time I've been CAM" and the gleaming knowing eyes of Strawbs next to him?? ahhh lads.... you've got me
again with another fine moment.
page six of ten

Strawbs eye glinting continued into our first goal. Starved and hungry for match time whilst sat on the bench, Neil only went and Utton to the pitch. Flicked, picked and snicked into the D and scored. Yay!!

Carl Birchall earnt his Man Of The Match by being Carl. Tough positive decisive. Sharing the spoils amongst supporting team mates; distributing out and up. Advised at teas it was his first MotM trophy. Nice to resolve that.

Martin Allen returned to his Right Back position and held court over Maldon directed attacks. That shot on goal saved by his wooden shin pads? That was the golden easter egg we all looked for in the Littlewoods catalogue or QVC cable channel show "hockey sticks and astro boots".
If you know you know.
page seven of ten

If you dont know well you would if you attended Club Pace Maker seafront walks, some Thursdays thru summer. Martin explained his old job to us. :-)
Penalty flick obvs, GK read the striker intention, dived the right way, a near save. Maldon scored their equaliser.

Dan Moore was controlling the midfield in his bespoke Hard Rock Bearded Metal Manner --
Christopher Cross Ride The Wind??
Saxon --> Destiny --> Ride The Wind!!
Then he plays Europe's "Walk The Earth" via a hockey stick and pure stage presence. Great show, Dan.

Mark Arnold. I once saw a rock band play at Reading University. Beers and tears flowed. Zip, whizz, game race mode on. When ordering your Mk3 Focus RS, ensure to avoid the "Active City Stop" option, cos we dont wanna
page eight of ten

stop, we wanna go! Go go go you did in spades. The pointless door edge protectors & sunroof were also left correctly absent from factory spec sheet, as 350bhp All Wheel Drive Arnold proper Ford Focus RS Cup2 tyred awesome went pop pop thru Maldons' wilting midfield: Rallye Sport indeed. Yes, mine is for sale should you wish to join him, folks.

Steve Lockwood came on. He saw:
1. The Keith "Have Faith" Goal.
2. The Greg Brace of Goals.
3. The Utton Triple
4. The Russ Epic Quad Saves.
And Lockwood Saw It Was Good x

Some apologies for absence / thanks:
Louie - best wishes dude !
Billy&Danny - thanks for your support.
Katie/Dennis/Vicky - thank you also.

Apologies for multi-page Eddie content, but he's going to Norfolk
page nine of ten

hence I over write: celebrate moments we have. Have material to reference, celebrate his future successes. One success of mine today was the 120mph Maldon strike from top D that fizzed at our heads: inline to Eddie's. Deflected with left glove. Ball lands at my feet. Our eyes connect on the turn. Edward calmly says: good save thanks. I clear - walk calmly away; thanking reactions. Might not have heard him saying thanks yet his eyes.

And thats that really. Keith, thank you again. 2nd place for the bike.
yep yep Hi Zak yup yup yeah i know I know I know, ya, he wants realisable abstrations with semi fluid boundaries, ya look at you boi! You are, as always, a buttery spaniel. yea yea he wants us to reverse loop on the base line and upshoot for going forwardness...
Ciao and Bella Omeletto !!