BACK FRESH AFTER THE BREAK

Folkestone men’s 2nd team started this half of the season at home against their long-standing rivals Canterbury. With a large squad teeming with talent, they fancied their chances for a fourth win on the bounce against this very same opposition. Looking to follow in the footsteps of the clubs first team Folkestone started with a new attack heavy formation.

The first 10 minutes it was clear both teams were finding their feet after the Christmas break with the link up play leaving a lot to be desired. Folkestone, still trying to adapt the new formation found themselves under pressure on the counterattack despite some controlled possession play. The pressure built and Canterbury found the back of the goal early with a well struck short corner putting Folkestone behind and unable to find the right flow. This continued until Folkestone reverted back to the layout that won them the league 18 months before.

The change was a welcome comfort to Folkestone now able to play with understanding and security. Bristow, Wishart, and Vincent had held the defence in the tough period and prevented disaster alongside some incredible saves as usual from Brenchley. Now with the space and freedom to distribute the ball, Folkestone were fighting back. Cheap was holding the middle and creating chances for Folkestone to attack supported by the constant cycling of the wing backs to inject pace.

The run of play changed and with the skills and pace of Kanny G, Llewellyn, and Payne Folkestone attacked the D. An incredible run from Kanny G drawing the whole defence as he does every week, before spilling the ball to Shaw set the stage. Shaw, out of his element as usually a defender, took a swing with the ball flying towards goal. A hard collision with a defender’s foot secured a short corner… but there was Kanny G again, as if from nowhere securing the ball before the whistle was blown for a slip to Llewellyn who calmly put the ball away to even the playing field. Llewellyn’s celebration was kept brief to avoid repeating past accusations of being too handsy.

Canterbury now stunned and on the back foot faced a composed and hungry opposition who were now in their element. Furneaux got the ball up the field in the air, past players, and even on the run as far as his legs could take him. With Ball and Coombes showing unstoppable game sense and control of the possession Canterbury were rattled and faced more consistent attacks of their D. They had to rely on their counterattack to break away but this was now a blunt sword following Folkestone’s switch up.

Now with a solid press on Canterbury’s defence, Folkestone’s front line pinned the 16 near the end of the first half. Shaw locked eyes with their centre back showing determination to prevent a crash ball. The CB seeing no options attempted to slice the ball past the left foot of Shaw but knew not that he faced a CB themselves living his dream in the front three. A swift pick and drive forward found Shaw entering the left side of the D and the keeper bounding out to rectify the mistake. In a moment of madness or inexperience Shaw dived at the ball, slicing it on his reverse into the centre of the D surprising both the keeper and himself. Breandan reacting to the turnover had placed himself in the ball's path and remembering from experience that it was his stick and not his foot he needed to throw at the ball, put Folkestone at 2-1 before the break.

After the half time talk Folkestone started to play their hockey using the width of Stone and Crookstone to build play and control the game as they have so many times before. The second half saw both sides playing as a team more and the overall quality of hockey increasing. Amidst the battle Canterbury showed they were not going to take the game lying down and found an equaliser to quell the high flying spirits of Folkestone. This did not break the home side, and the push was still on for 3 points.

A series of attacks from the front five showed Folkestone’s experience as a side linking together and picking apart the defence. Furneaux taking on responsibility and relieving Shaw to run forward saw the defence drawn in and a slip pass creating opportunity for Shaw to shoot. Now 5 yards from the goal the attitude sickness truly took effect seeing Shaw wind up and clip the ball with no real connection. Spilling the ball right and with the keeper confused Kanny G grabs the wayward shot and adds himself to the score sheet to make it 3-2. Did Shaw mean to do this, no, will he tell everyone he did, of course.

The last 20 minutes of the game saw both teams attack relentlessly, with Furneaux as a one-man army being robbed of a short corner following an altercation on the edge of Canterbury’s D. With Folkestone unable to extend their lead the last 10 minutes saw an onslaught of Canterbury seeking their third goal. Folkestone defended as a team showing conviction, synergy, and fortitude. With a least 5 or more short corners conceded, concern was setting in and would they be able to hold out. Canterbury arguably deserved to take a point with how the last 10 went but alas Folkestone would not allow this. Brenchley, once again showing why he can never leave and must protect Folkestone to the end, would not allow Canterbury the taste of points in this game.

The final whistle went and a relieved Folkestone could finally calm themselves. Captain Hopkin who had played a vital role in controlling the front line could feel proud of his team. Finding themselves now in 7th place with a 3-point lead over 8th was more than they could hope for, planting themselves in the best position for the rest of the season. Next week Herne Bay, next week the fight for 6th place in the league.