13/12/2019
Royal Navy FA (4) - (1) United Hospitals FC
As I sit here writing this message this morning, I can't help but feel somewhat deflated.
Following months of preparation, touring up and down the country (well 70 miles down the south coast), and with a group of individuals whose primary focus lie in education with a future of NHS prosperity, it was thought that David could slay Goliath. Though, in the end, it all accumulated in a lost for those in red (well, claret) as the United Hospitals were beaten by the Royal Navy. Huh? What do you mean another team in red lost something last night?
In the build up to this match, all things went as expected. A squad of the London's finest medical and dental students were assembled, the Imperial minibus was fueled and oiled and Harry Donkin was at least 15 minutes late. Somethings never change.
The game was to be played at the Navy's Victory Stadium in Portsmouth, so the squad buckled up and headed down the A3, never quite figuring out how to demist that front windscreen.
The Navy had afforded both a grass and 3G pitch tonight, meaning that despite the monsoon that battered the south coast, the game would go ahead. However, this rain was relentless and you could forgive us for polishing our boots ready for the all-weather artificial grass as we text the Navy manager a tongue-in-cheek "3G? Lol". To which he swiftly responsed "Grass is good!" with one of those muscle arm emojis. We knew the Navy liked it wet.
The first half began largely as expected with both sides evenly matched trying, and struggling, to assert themselves on the game with conditions making free-flowing football all but impossible. It was, however, the Navy that took the lead due to an unfortunate error.
Panic not though, for the United Hospitals had 6'6" trick up their sleeve. They were the kinds of whispers that turned heads. "He's ex-Loughborough 1s, ex-Northern Irish prem" "He's got pedigree". Although, up until now, no one outside of the Royal Free had seen this mythical beast. Could it be folklore? Just hearsay?
Apparently not, as debutant Mikel Suarez glided onto the pitch and calmly slotted into the bottom right corner with his first touches of the game. 1-1.
Unfortunately, the United Hospitals couldn't kick on and eventually fell victim to a 4-1 loss, with the expected physicality and fitness of the Navy pulling them through.
To our credit though, despite the quality and well-drilled nature of the Navy, the United Hospitals gave a very respectable account of themselves and never looked out of place and we hope that this match can carry on as a tradition in future years.
That's all from me as I pull into Stansted Airport about to board a flight to Barcelona. I'd like to congratulate Mikel and Nick Steenberger, the latter who made some excellent saves in goal, on their debuts. Also, Harry Donkin and Josh Bryan who earned their UH ties on their third appearances and I'd finally like to thank the Navy for hosting us.
Next fixture is on the 19th of January as we host the British and Norwegian Doctors teams in a mini round robin tournament.
Brandon.
