A Desmond at Three Hills

The prophecy said 5–2. The prophecy, it turns out, knows very little about hockey.

In reality, the M3s had to settle for a hard-fought 2–2 draw with Marden Russets, in a game where the Optimists twice showed plenty of character.

Folkestone drew first blood after around 15 minutes. Sam Ireland stepped up at a penalty corner and fired a drag push towards goal. The Marden keeper got something on it, but not enough, parrying the ball into his own net to give the Optimists a deserved 1–0 lead.

Marden responded, finding an equaliser before the break to send the sides in 1–1 at half-time.

The second half saw Folkestone increasingly push forward looking for the winner. But with bodies committed, Marden found space on the counter and, with around ten minutes remaining, struck to turn the game on its head: 1–2.

Time for the M3s to roll the dice.

And skipper Scott Minister rolled a big one.

The Optimists switched to three at the back and four up front, flooded forward and effectively decided that attack was the best form of defence.

The response was excellent.

Finn Letley broke through and forced a save from the Marden keeper, but the danger wasn't cleared. Letley picked out Tom Jones, who "buried" the follow-up to drag Folkestone level at 2–2.

And there was no settling for the point.

The Optimists kept pouring forward, chasing a winner right to the end, but Marden held firm and the spoils were shared.

A Desmond. 2-2.

Not the five-goal procession foretold by Mystic ChatGPT on Friday evening, but a point earned the hard way — and, at 2–1 down with ten minutes left, one that showed plenty about this M3 side.

Goals: Ireland, Jones
Assist: Letley