Result: Won 2-1

Scorers: M Fuller

This week’s Evergreens (+ a couple of Vets) took on Div 2 rivals Eastcote in a pyrotechnic display of Hockey pops and bangs, you guessed it we have a festive edition..…. Chelmsford took early control of the first half; playing the short ball, pass and move, pass and move, Eastcote looked ordinary, despite our GK “Sparky” tackling lanky legs Hull, presenting the Eastcote CF with an opportunity which fizzled out. Evergreens dominated with well worked goals, with DeMello lighting the blue touch paper followed by Matthews Catherine wheeling into the D and rounding the keeper, then finally completing his hat trick of goals in 3 years Martin “Aah“ Fuller.

After suitable festive re hydration at half time, Skipper Sparky Holleborn encouraged us to keep to the short game and with urges of “we’ve got this” from the subs bench, Chelmsford Evergreens re took the field for the second half. Eastcote significantly less re hydrated than Chelmsford, pressed and played the better hockey with a first ‘ghoul’ (spelt incorrectly on purpose) from a fire cracker of a short corner…Eastcote followed up with a second goal following a series of questionable tackles. Evergreens lit the beacons and rotated the bench to bring on fresh legs and held on parrying the final crescendo of attacks from Eastcote. A real test of courage and commitment from the Evergreens side and first 3 points of the season, already looking forward to next week’s fixtures against Indian Gym.