Magpies fight hard but come away pointless in London

After a 5-0 loss the week previously, Magpies’ second string made the fairly long journey to Beckton in East London to face Indian side Ramgharia. Traditionally a feisty side, the home team are riding high in Prem B and Magpies’ vice-skipper Baynes knew his side were in for a tough game.

With skipper Hipwell unavailable as he had started for the 1st XI last weekend, Magpies did take several national league squad players who eligible, with Rob Kinsella, Richard Ling, Tom Graham, Will Blyth, George Payne and Alex Slater making the trip to bolster the side. Pies were without James Baker and Dickon Taylor, but looked to have a strong side.

The game started well for both sides, but it was the Londoners who made the most of their chances with their skilful forwards creating wave after wave of attacks, all dealt with by Slater, Absolon, Cumming and Larkin who switched around in a three-man defence. Lane in goal kept a couple of penalty corners out, and Cumming saved on the post to keep it nil-nil until the end of the first half.

However, a dubious penalty corner award for a stick tackle almost outside the 25 led to Ramgharia having four attempts after the half time whistle had sounded, which they finally scored from with a well struck shot.

The second half saw the deficit almost immediately to two-nil as Ramgharia surged forward, using thing their skills to deceive Pies’ defenders and flick home. What looked like it could be a cricket score became better once Ling had scored to reduce the scoreline, and Kinsella fired home shortly after to make it two-two and game on.

Youngsters Blyth, Slater, Graham and Payne worked hard to get the team back into the game, but the home side went for the jugular, and forced numerous corners before scoring with a scrambled effort which neither Lane or Absolon could keep out, and the Indians fired in their fourth from a neat deflected penalty corner shortly afterwards to make it 4-2. Pies came close through Dave Francis and Ling again, but could not work any more chances.

Man of the match was Richard Larkin for stout defending, with Alex Slater taking the dick of the day award for his lack of modern history knowledge.

Man of the match – Richard Larkin
Dick of the day – Alex Slater
Poem – “I Believe”

Magpies 2nd XI team: Lane (GK), Absolon, Iain Cumming, Blyth, Fields, Kinsella, Baynes (C), Francis, Larkin, Slater, Payne, Tom Graham, Richard Ling.