Local derby ends with Marden edging victory

The game against local rivals Marden was nearly called off due to fog of all things! Before push back the fog had clear sufficiently to allow play to begin. The game started off at a high tempo from both teams, but it was Marden who took the early initiative. They kept SV pinned in their half for the first 15 minutes and soon capitalised on the early domination by scoring 2 goals. SV responded well with a goal of their own (Chris Sheldon scoring a rare reverse stick goal), but felt that Marden still had the upper hand. Marden piled on more pressure and scored another 2 goals, with SV responding once again with a goal of their own to take the game to 4-2 at half time (Tom Bartlett poaching a great goal at the far post putting the ball into the roof of the net). At times SV looked dangerous during the half, but it wasn’t consistently dangerous.
Half time allowed SV to reflect on the first 35 minutes and a group discussion flushed out the areas the team needed to improve in. The second half started with SV upping the tempo and they started playing the style of hockey they should have played in the first half. Early dominance eventually bought goals, with 2 goals being scored 5 minutes apart from Reuben Collingwood & Chris Sheldon to level the game. The two goals left Marden shell shocked at how the game had turned around. The game in the final 10 minutes was stretch, with SV missing out on 2 goal scoring opportunities in front of goal, only to be hit on the counter to go 5-4 down with only a few minutes to go. The game end 5-4 to Marden, with SV feeling they should have taken at least 1 point from the fixture after a dominant 2nd half performance.
Man of the match went to Reuben Collingwood who was playing only his second game for the 3’s. He had a constantly high level of work rate throughout the game and looks set to be the new engine room of the 3’s for the remainder of the season!