Devizes arrived at North Wilts following a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Marlborough hoping to get their league campaign back on track after a very positive start to the season. Predictably, with youth on their side, it was Devizes who started the match with the most fluidity, constantly prodding and probing the North Wilts defence hoping to find a chink in their armour. Alas, despite numerous efforts, North Wilts were resolute in defence and fast to break when the opportunity arose, requiring sharp cooperative work from the Devizes defence on numerous occasions. Devizes, having worked the ball around brilliantly for large chunks of the opening exchanges, began to lose their structure and fluid style slightly as North Wilts stubbornly refused to allow them to make any significant impression on the game. With Devizes’ concentration wandering slightly North Wilts snatched a goal out of nothing. A long diagonal ball flew past the out stretched stick of Nick Gompels, allowing the left winger an open path to pass in to the ‘D’. The stretched Devizes defence scampered across, attempting to neutralise the threat as the ball was passed back across towards a North Wilts forward approaching the far post. Simon Church was the first to respond but an unfortunate bobble made it impossible for him to clear the ball which sat up beautifully for the North Wilts forward. He couldn’t quite believe his luck as he blasted the ball past a surprised Aaron Holloway to give North Wilts a 1-0 lead. After this goal, normal service was resumed, with Devizes enjoying the bulk of the possession and territory. Max Johnson and Toby Benning-Batstone were consistently winning their battles in midfield allowing Tom and Jacob Stoner to criss-cross the North Wilts defence, confident that the ball would find its way through to them. After one particularly well worked attack Devizes equalised as Tom Stoner latched on to the end of a precise pass and slammed the ball into the back board with a satisfying thud as he punched the air in celebration. Just as it looked as though Devizes could retreat to the dugout at half time with the score line deservedly equal, North Wilts broke forward once again with a five-man attack, skilfully co-ordinated and at high speed. Sam Gompels was able to deny a scoring opportunity but in the desperate efforts to clear the ball Devizes conceded a penalty corner right on the stroke of half time. North Wilts duly dispatched their shot at goal and Devizes were once again behind.

The opening minutes of the second half were chess-like. Without exception, the Devizes defenders kept watchful eyes on the troublesome North Wilts forward. The midfield, while always looking for opportunities to attack, were reluctant to leave themselves exposed to the lightning counter-attacks they had been subjected to in the first half. The game had been played in great spirit and, aided by great umpiring, the match really flourished as Devizes continued to attack and North Wilts refused to yield. Just as it seemed that only a moment of magic or a cruel slip could tip the game off-balance, Jacob Stoner took centre stage. Max Johnson played a perfectly weighted diagonal pass which bisected the defense. Jacob Stoner beat the remaining defenders and let his shot fly which sailed past the keeper. Kofi Pegden was bearing down on the goal to be on hand to deflect the shot should he be required to but could only look on in desperation as the ball clattered against the side of the post and rebounded behind to safety. As the clock ticked down Devizes poured forward but the North Wilts defense refused to be lured away from their stronghold and their wall of green and white shirts proved to be impregnable. The final whistle blew leaving Devizes on the bitter end of a second successive 2-1 defeat away from home. Devizes were perhaps unlucky not to gain anything from the match but North Wilts did very well at making the most of the opportunities presented to them whilst preventing Devizes from capitalizing on theirs. The style of hockey that Devizes showed that they are capable of playing for prolonged periods can only fill the whole team with confidence and optimism to continue in the same vein for the remainder of the season – hopefully with more results falling in their favour in future!

Sam Johnson, who often finds himself at the epicentre of DoD discussions avoided the honours this week by making himself scarce at the vote. Although there is little evidence to prove it, the general assumption is that he was completing a Man of the Match nomination form for himself at the time. In his absence, his younger brother was found guilty by association and sentenced to one weeks hard ridicule. Poor old Max…! Toby Benning-Batstone played fantastically throughout the match once again and made such an impact on the game that the opposition nominated him as the Man of the Match – there was no opposition to this thoroughly deserved suggestion as last years Player of the Season took the honours.