Mens 3 vs Saffron Walden Mens 4

With a lot of fresh faces into a new look St Ives 3rd XI, we faced Saffron Walden in a pre season non-league match.

The match was a competitive affair, being a tale of 3 close quarters and one poor quarter from a St Ives perspective.

The first quarter ended 0-0 after some promising attacking moves forward. The best chance falling to Hingston on the P-spot well saved by the keeper. 

However, the scores were 2-0 at half time following a good move from the 16 finding a SW player at the far post deflecting in. With the second being a breakaway through the heart of the St Ives defence and midfield.

However, St Ives played well in the 3rd quarter and only a good deflection made the scores 3-0 to the home side. But there was a lot of pressure up the other end of the field and a couple of back post passes went untouched. 

The fourth quarter was all St Ives and there was certainly some great passing around the D, with Ives unable to find anyone within the D. Some really well worked passages found mini Wildin in some space, with Dan Craven finding a lot in midfield also.

However, the scores ended 3-0. MoM went to new player Ian at the back who was always dominant at the back with some excellent tackling and distribution. But honours also to Michael Wildin, Josh Clayton and Luke Pooley making their 3s debuts (and in Josh’s case his first ever full hockey match!). A really promising game which sets us up nicely for the full season.