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Mitcham hosted Nomads in a match which would go a long way to securing a play off berth for Mitcham or alternatively allow Nomads to bridge the gap which Mitcham had over the four teams sitting on 9 points. Ben King returned for the home side after missing the thunderous match against Bec the previous week and Kathryn Ayres also returned after missing the previous week through work commitments.
It was Nomads who were conversely under-strength this week due to Joe Old's own work commitments, combined with Steve Green's season-ending injury. Although in Sytze Bijker Nomads do have the second highest open play scorer in the league, as well as Ean Irwin who is also a massive goal threat.
Mitcham were looking to play more freely than the previous week against Bec and seemed more at ease, the vocal support and surroundings of their home venue more conducive to a free-flowing game. Despite the opening goal going to Nomads through Irwin under the greatest of pressure from Ross Bower, Mitcham were about to show their coach that they can play unhindered and be ruthless.
Getting quickly into the attacking phase, shooting with confidence, and recycling strongly, enabled Mitcham to score consistently throughout the team. Craig Gosling and Bower found the levels of communication they have been looking for since Dean Woods' departure to injury. Kate Wragg was unhindered at home and with the superb connection play of Ayres, they looked a different side to the week before.
Nomads goal tally tells the story of their season: their first choice starting boys have scored 115 goals between them, their first four girls have scored only 28. This story was being played out on the pitch with Irwin scoring very well despite good pressure from Bower and Bijker also contributing. The Nomads girls however were subdued in contrast to their host's female contingent.
Carina Lamalas produced the game of her season so far scoring 3 but more importantly playing with the aggression she shows on international duty. Mitcham hit 10 by the break to Nomad�s 3 with Coach Dave Synott unusually quiet, sitting in the dugout for most of the half.
Mitcham needed to continue their pressure on the second half whereas Nomads were afforded a licence to play with some freedom, having nothing to lose. Seemingly following a similar pattern to Trojans' play at the start of the second half, Mitcham lost fluency with the game considered won already perhaps.
King exited after ten second-half minutes (to be replaced by Synott) as a precaution which will give Mitcham come jitters as the season closes. Nomads have it all to do and must be looking for a bigger impact from their female players. Despite a more even second half, Nomads added seven in this period; overall Bijker grabbed 3 and Irwin finished with 6l, but Mitcham reached 18 by the end with 10 coming from their female contingent and everyone on the score sheet. One more win will see Mitcham in a certain third place whereas Nomads are now in an end of season race for fourth place it would seem.
Match Report courtesy of englandkorfball.co.uk. A full round up of week 11 of the Haven Sports Korfball League is available here.
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