Result should not be dwelled upon when 5 players had never picked up a stick before the start of the season

So the penultimate game of the season saw the men’s 4s travel to play their Luton counterparts in deepest Bedfordshire. A slightly damp morning and a pitch next to the bustling M1 is not the most picturesque of locations to welcome to new players to the 4s but nevertheless Connor Haywood and Jacques Wildon (another Blunham CC acquisition) made their debuts for the club. The 4s were also delighted to welcome back Marcus Pennington and Kev Orchard to bolster the ranks. With no access to changing rooms without a ‘special pass’ most of the team got changed in the back of Darran France’s van despite Gully having near double 0 status with her majesties government.

A rather scrappy first ten minutes saw Luton take the lead with a short corner well struck into the corner of the goal. Coverdale again playing as kicking back in the absence of a keeper made a couple of handy blocks with foot, ankle, knee and occasionally stick. Shefford then hit back and Kev Orchard despite playing at centre back was providing all kinds of problems in the Luton D and was rightly awarded a flick after a suspect foot from a Luton defender stop his shot crossing the line. Orchard then dispatched the flick with ease and Shefford finished the first half playing some excellent pass and move hockey with Ed Murray-Clark continuing to establish himself as a key presence in the Shefford defence. 1-1 at half time.

The second half started with Shefford continuing where they had left off, Paul Barden managing to play a mid-air baseball shot and Darran France as ever bossing the midfield with countless interceptions to disrupt the Luton attacks. Luton however struck back and slotted a second home only for Shefford to equalise seconds later with Marcus Pennington scoring an absolute belter from a tight angle (which was described after the game by the opposition as the best goal they had conceded all year!). Five minutes of madness then followed with Shefford conceding two more in quick succession albeit one an unlucky deflection following a short corner.

Final score Luton 4 – S&S 2

Both Connor and Jacques put in good shifts and Ben Stone and Lewis Barden continue to improve with each and every game played. On average the Luton team were considerably older than the Shefford boys and the result shouldn’t be dwelled upon when 5 of the players had never picked up a stick before the start of the season.

Other assorted highlights saw the Shefford youngsters eating enough macaroni to fill a bath and Paul Barden aghast at having to pay £7.50 for some flowers on the journey home in preparation for Mother’s Day.