Southgate Adelaide IV 0 Potters Bar III 1 – match abandoned after 10 minutes
Saturday 17th October 2009

Team: S Walters (Capt), T Sayers (GK), D Blakemore, A Bye A Seeney G Wickham B Sayers, P Simmons, J Dean, S Nicholls, A Pigden

Scorer: A Bye
Umpire: R West

Clearly the match reporter gets the blame here, commenting with just under 10 minutes gone that this was some of the best hockey that he’d seen at this level!

In those 10 minutes a Bar side that was down to a bare 11 players following some rather late withdrawals, was looking good in all departments. At the back the sartorially elegant Tony Sayers had made a useful save to thwart Adelaide’s one chance of the opening, whilst the rest of the defence were looking good, being well marshalled as usual by Dave Blakemore.

The midfield looked potent with Alex Seeney setting up Adam Pigden for one chance that was well saved by the keeper, whilst Bradley Sayers and Simeon Nicholls were both looking busy down the flanks. On 7 minutes the good play brought its reward as a short corner rather fortuitously ended in a goal as Andy Bye’s lifted effort was diverted home by an Adelaide stick.

The game however was brought to a sudden halt after 10 minutes by a sickening collision as Dave Blakemore, bringing the ball out of defence down the flank, crashed into the on rushing Adelaide player. Both players fell to the floor immediately with blood gushing from the Adelaide player’s head wound and Dave immediately indicating a likely broken nose, followed by his own dispersal of blood.

It was clear after just a few moments that neither player would be able to continue and that an ambulance would need to be called. Therefore the game was quickly abandoned for lots of sensible reasons. In the end both players required their own ambulance with a number of stitches clearly needed for the Adelaide player and some urgent treatment required for Dave’s clearly broken nose.

Many thanks to the Adelaide first aid expert for his help for both players and to all those who helped stem the flow of blood. Let’s hope that both players (combined age of 108!) make a speedy recovery.

by Anthony Levy