Mens 2's eventually see off Wallingford in a game of two halves

I'm quite fond of saying before matches that "it won't just happen". The chums must get fed up with it. You might wonder what it means. Very simply you can't just wander onto the pitch and assume that you're going to steamroller the opposition no matter where they might sit in the league table. Being in the right frame of mind is critical. On Saturday the 2's provided ample evidence of that principle.

We went to Wallingford on the back of a very decent performance and win against high flying Eastcote the previous Saturday. We had a strong squad. It had rained heavily overninght and Wallingford's pitch was slick and to our liking. The home side were on 3 points for the season so far and apparently struggling.

So what did the 2's do? You've got it - they played like a bunch of beginners for virtually the entire first half and were very much second best to the green and whites. Half time 3-1 to the home side with Hawks goal coming from Matt Northfield - and a score which pretty fairly reflected the balance of play. At least it provided an opportunity for this squad of players to show some mettle and resolve.

The second half was a very different story. Hawks took the game to Wallingford playing with the sort of commitment that had been notable for its absence in the first period. Nonetheless the score remained at 1-3 for a further 15 minutes before the boys rattled in 3 goals of their own in quick succession from the Belgian, Lewis and-  extraordinarily - captain Robson. 4-3 to Hawks.Even a yellow card for Jake Taylor which reduced the 2's to 10 men failed to unsettle the chums who eventually played out the final few minutes with some comfort.

High fives all round - a first away win on the back of a much better second half. We got out of jail but maybe shouldn't have been there in the first place. Just remember - "it won't just happen". 

Thanks to Vicki Hearn for the photos.

Squad

Sam Clark, Laurie Cooke, James Cutter, Finn Dunleavy, Arthur Guillaume, Philip Hargraves, Lewis Jowett, Matt Northfield, Connor Payne, Ian Roberts, Simon Robinson, Cameron Saint, Jake Taylor, Harry Venables

Scorers