The Marches 2 League

Wotton-under-Edge Mens 4ths 7 Evesham and Badsey 2nds 2

WOTTON-Under-Edge started their league campaign with a focused and hard-fought home victory over Marches Two league newcomers Evesham and Badsey.

Four different players made the scoresheet, with four goals for man of the match David Chevin.

Also there was a goal and strong assist for Jamie Chalmers, and one apiece for Ben Butter and Mark Patteson. Wotton started strongly, moving the ball around the midfield, and settling into a steady succession of forays up the sidelines of the pitch.

There were also drives across into the opposition 23 with well-timed runs from Butter, Chalmers and Chevin.

Going to the baseline and then cutting in for well-timed passes across to the waiting players in the opposition circle was always going to be a well-worked and successful move.

And two goals came quickly for Chevin off that action, with strong assists from Chalmers, Bruce Durnham, Matt Wong and Stuart Jones.

With goals in the bag against them, Evesham started to wake up and put together strong and purposeful attacks, several times catching Wotton high up the pitch and allowing their attackers into the Wotton circle to outnumber and score on two occasions over 15 minutes.

The visitors’ attacks were split by a strong breakaway goal from Butter, who coolly slotted one home with a low scudding ball. The Wotton keeper, Leo Wells, worked hard to limit the damage, and kept the Wotton team in front over sustained pressure from the Evesham attackers.

With the score at 3-2 to Wotton at half time, and an early strong position reduced by the efforts of the opposition, Wotton stepped up the pace and focus, working the ball wide and back into the centre with probing attacks high up the pitch. Short sharp attacks by the Wotton halves, with strength in depth from vice-captain Brian Patterson and defensive debutant Richard Harper when the ball was turned over, saw a wave of attacks. That pressure resulted in goals, with Chalmers driving hard up the right, bagging a clean shallow angle goal which was buried in the backboard, and a second which was touched in by Mark Patteson for the neatest assist of the game. Chevin added to his brace of first-half goals, with two more in the second period against a wilting Evesham defence.

With the last five minutes finishing at pace, Wotton continued to press hard, seeking another goal. With the final whistle being blown, Wotton picked up their first win of the league campaign, whilst knowing that stern tests still lie ahead.

This weekend, Wotton fourths travel to Cirencester looking to consolidate their position in the league table, and to set out an intent to play entertaining, open and simple hockey, and to continue to work hard as a team in order to kick-start the campaign in the way they would like to.