Mens 4th XI vs Romsey 2

Saturday 4th October – South Central Hockey South Division 4

Trojans 1–1 Romsey 2nd XI

Venue: Ganger Farm Sports Complex

Trojans Men’s 4th XI produced a spirited and disciplined performance on Saturday to earn a 1–1 draw away to Romsey 2nd XI at Ganger Farm — a fantastic turnaround from the previous week’s 9–0 defeat to Bournemouth. With only eleven players available and no substitutes, this result was built on grit, teamwork, and determination.

Trojans started the match strongly, keeping their structure tight and moving the ball well through midfield. Their early energy paid off about 15 minutes in when they earned one of their first short corners. A sharp pass to the right post lifted the ball high in front of goal, where Dave Henderson expertly plucked it from the air and knocked it down toward goal. Keith Wood was on hand to get the decisive touch, nicking the ball past the defender and into the net to give Trojans a deserved lead.

Romsey pushed back, but Trojans’ defence held firm, stifling their attacks and limiting clear chances. Just before half-time, however, young Eddie suffered a painful blow to the knee from an opponent’s stick and had to leave the pitch. With no subs to call on, Trojans were reduced to ten men and had to dig deep to see out the rest of the half.

Early in the second half, Eddie bravely returned to help his team, playing around 15 minutes despite visible discomfort. Unfortunately, with about eight minutes remaining, the pain became too much and he was forced to come off again — leaving Trojans to finish the match with just ten men on the pitch.

Romsey’s equaliser came midway through the second half in unfortunate fashion. A short corner flick that looked to be heading wide struck a Trojans defender on the hip and deflected cruelly into the goal. Despite Trojans’ appeals that the shot was dangerous, the apologetic umpire couldn’t be certain and allowed the goal to stand.

With legs tiring and pressure mounting, Trojans faced another setback when Matt Wall received a green card. Yet the defence remained resolute, with goalkeeper Phil Roch making several sharp saves to keep the scores level. The backline, marshalled with calm determination, worked tirelessly to shut down Romsey’s attacks and preserve the draw.

In the final minutes, Trojans “parked the bus” with ten men, showing real heart to deny Romsey any chance of a winner. When the whistle blew, the draw felt like a victory — a deserved reward for a side that refused to fold under pressure.

Man of the Match: Lucas Harvey – tireless energy, clever link-up play, and a relentless work rate from start to finish.

A battling performance, a point earned through teamwork and courage — and a massive improvement from last week. Trojans Men’s 4th XI can be proud of this one.