BackSat 20 Sep 2025 · Division 1 East
Canterbury Pilgrims
Mens 2nd XI
1
2
Men's 2s A v Canterbury
Amy Bumstead
Magic Mike
OPS 2s travelled to Polo Farm to kick off their second season in South East Division 1. Despite several injuries leaving the squad short of numbers, the team arrived with a small but determined group. Debuts were handed to Alex Wishart and Theo Coombs, while Mike Hopkin marked his long-awaited return to league action.
The early stages were evenly contested, with both sides pressing high and looking to play at pace. OPS’s back four of Vincent, Wishart, Stone, and Shaw looked composed and organised, breaking up Canterbury’s attacks with confidence. In midfield, Furneaux, Ball, Kyle G, and newcomer Coombs provided relentless energy, forcing the opposition to work hard.
OPS began to threaten on the counter, and a neat move down the right involving Stone, Coombs, and Doyle ended with Furneaux firing a shot from 12 yards, only for the Canterbury keeper to save well. Just as OPS looked on top, a harsh penalty corner was awarded at the other end, but Brenchley – looking even more assured than last season – cleared the danger superbly.
Twenty minutes in, OPS broke the deadlock. A disguised pass from N. Hopkin found his brother Mike, who calmly tapped home for 1–0. Just minutes later, OPS doubled their lead: excellent work from Wishart down the flank saw his cross deflected goalwards by Doyle, with Mike Hopkin on hand again at the back post to grab his second. A dream return.
Canterbury responded with pressure and a couple of short corners, but Brenchley was equal to them, ensuring OPS took a deserved 2–0 lead into half-time. The message at the break was simple: keep up the work rate and teamwork.
The second half began at a blistering tempo. Canterbury pushed hard, but OPS’s fitness began to shine through. Kyle G was outstanding, beating three players on a mazy run before being brought down for a penalty corner. Wishart stepped up, firing a drag flick just over the bar.
As the game entered the final minutes, both sides exchanged chances, but with eight minutes to go Canterbury forced their way around the back and bundled in a scrappy close-range finish to make it 2–1. OPS dug deep, refocused, and held firm until the final whistle – celebrating what felt like a huge opening-day victory
The early stages were evenly contested, with both sides pressing high and looking to play at pace. OPS’s back four of Vincent, Wishart, Stone, and Shaw looked composed and organised, breaking up Canterbury’s attacks with confidence. In midfield, Furneaux, Ball, Kyle G, and newcomer Coombs provided relentless energy, forcing the opposition to work hard.
OPS began to threaten on the counter, and a neat move down the right involving Stone, Coombs, and Doyle ended with Furneaux firing a shot from 12 yards, only for the Canterbury keeper to save well. Just as OPS looked on top, a harsh penalty corner was awarded at the other end, but Brenchley – looking even more assured than last season – cleared the danger superbly.
Twenty minutes in, OPS broke the deadlock. A disguised pass from N. Hopkin found his brother Mike, who calmly tapped home for 1–0. Just minutes later, OPS doubled their lead: excellent work from Wishart down the flank saw his cross deflected goalwards by Doyle, with Mike Hopkin on hand again at the back post to grab his second. A dream return.
Canterbury responded with pressure and a couple of short corners, but Brenchley was equal to them, ensuring OPS took a deserved 2–0 lead into half-time. The message at the break was simple: keep up the work rate and teamwork.
The second half began at a blistering tempo. Canterbury pushed hard, but OPS’s fitness began to shine through. Kyle G was outstanding, beating three players on a mazy run before being brought down for a penalty corner. Wishart stepped up, firing a drag flick just over the bar.
As the game entered the final minutes, both sides exchanged chances, but with eight minutes to go Canterbury forced their way around the back and bundled in a scrappy close-range finish to make it 2–1. OPS dug deep, refocused, and held firm until the final whistle – celebrating what felt like a huge opening-day victory
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