First team match report
Hazelwood - March 2006
Overall
Another excellent 4 -1 away win for Coolhurst against a friendly Hazelwood side. With BA losing to Ealing last week this result piles on the pressure at the top. The league, for sure, is going to be very tight. The outcome was in doubt in the early stages of the match as the lower order floundered against stand-in opposition but some fine performances from the higher players eased the team to a comfortable victory.
Richard Gourlay
Result: Won 3-1
Plus's: Volleying well with some good attacking squash in parts, didn't lose despite trying very hard.
Minus's: Shot selection, fitness, ticker issues.
Verdict: Played Muwbeen who, despite his ageing years, always proves to be a tricky opponent. Sneaked the first game 9-7 and took at healthy 6-0 lead in the second. Gourlay, evidently feeling pleased with himself, then decided to volley his opponents back wall boast, needless to say the aimless shot was straight down his opponents throat and the bald eagle was left pulling whats left of his hair out. His opponent being buoyed by this act of lunacy clawed his way back into the match and left Gourlay to ponder just how easy this win shuld have been. Oh yeah, blew another 6-0 lead in the 4th but thankfully didn't lose the match.
Rating: 3/5
Ali Murhpy
Result: Lost 0-3
Plus's: Opponent was the best player in the team by far (not a compliment mind you).
Minus's: General playing standard.
Verdict: Playing a stand in number 5 who turned out to be an England ranked junior (and checking the club leagues had beaten the number 2 3-1 in the previous week), was always up against it but to be fair has played much better squash than this in the past. Needs to get on court more. Selection committee meeting in the next week to decide his future...
Rating: 1.5/5
Nick Buckley
Result: Won 3-0
Plus's: Pretty much everything.
Minus's: Dropped 5 points.
Verdict: Commanding performance by the youngster, duffing up the Hazelwood captain in minutes. Quite possibly the best 'first game' player the team has seen for some time. Pushing upper order for a higher place in the team, needs firmly tested before a full verdict on the mans ability can be reached.
Rating: 4.5/5
Ali McGill
Result: Won 3-0
Plus's: Good aggressive squash, kept the pressure on till the end
Minus's: None really, match over to quick
Verdict: Excellent win for Captain McGill but one wonders if Glen Howe's choice of shorts hindered his squash ability - very dubious and bordering on obscene, little wonder that McGill wanted to get the game over so quick.
Rating: 3/5 (lost point for declaring his love for Hong Kong based purely on the Philippino bar hostesses)
Damian Smith
Result: Won 3-1
Plus's: Retrieving, moved opponent round the court well, didn't give up at 0-1 3-7.
Minus's: Speed (or lack of it), found the tin magnetic.
Verdict: A real Jeckyll and Hyde match found Smithy running round in circles for a game and a half drilling the tin with amazing consistency. Thankfully the 'in-car' syndrome wore off and he managed to pull back a tough second game. His opponent seemingly tired once Smithy got in gear and pushed him about the court, the last 2 games a formality at 9-2 9-0.
Rating: 3/5