After a rest weekend M4's came back into league action with a game against St Albans 9's with everyone feeling refreshed and ready to play hockey and looking to avenge for a last minute goal scored by St Albans 9's in a 1 - 0 defeat at Oaklands earlier in the season.
With Zammo in goal and a back 4 of Graham Spicer, Kal Singh, Ian Noble and Jon Parker M4's started well in an even first period. M4's passed well with Josh Lake and Tony Farnan in CM passing well and Xavi George in LM and Alex Lake in RM making some good runs towards the strikers of Mehron Kirk and Simon Russell. M4's pressed the St Albans 9's team well, however, nearly got caught out 10 minutes into the game after a 3 on 1 counter attack by St Albans which was defended well by Zammo. In the 17th minute, St Albans took a 1 - 0 lead which they held on until the half time break despite M4's creating chances on the St Albans goal including Xavi George having a chance on goal that was narrowly missed.
M4's came out for the second period carrying on playing good hockey and passing well with Pete Hindle in CB defending St Albans attacks well and Lawrie Western in CM making good runs. In the 45th minute Lawrie Western was rewarded for his good play with a good run in with the ball from the right hand side of the D firing it into the goal to bring M4's level. Unfortunately, in the 53rd minute St Albans gained themselves advantage again. Despite this, M4's weren't disheartened and brought the game level again after a good strike into the D from the left hand side from Lawrie Western where Simon Russell was on hand with his stick to put the ball into the top left handside of the St Albans goal.
M4's carried on defending well including a goal line clearance from Ian Noble. M4's passed, pressed and played well making good attacks. This was rewarded on the 60th minute after Josh Lake struck the ball past the St Albans keeper after a goal mouth scramble in the D and M4's found themselves winning 3 - 2...a nervy 10 minutes were to follow where M4's defended and pressed well with Josh Lake having attempts that narrowly missed the goal and Xavi George having a 1 on 1 attempt with the St Albans keeper. M4's held on for the final whistle giving M4's their first league win of the season and their first win after 17 straight league defeats stretching back to 15th February 2025 when M4's last won a league game against Hertford 7's Development team. M4's now look to travel away next Saturday to the side just above them in the league, Rickmansworth 3's...PoM Lawrie Western