ROSS Men's A hockey team went into their game against Stroud with optimism tempered only by the lack of a goalkeeper.

Despite the self-sacrifice of Tony Faulkner playing as "Kicking Back", this absence was always going to give the advantage to Stroud if the result was in the balance, and so it proved.

The first half was very balanced in every respect, including the distribution of goals. Dan Mills, Rory Calderwood, and last week's hat-trick hero Stephen Hetenyi are developing into a formidable attacking trio and they completed intricate and pacey passing moves with fine finishes.

The key passage of play occurred in the first ten minutes of the second half. Maybe their team talk was more inspiring than Ross' as Stroud went 4-2 up.

However, Ross stuck to their task, as Edward Peck controlled the ball with panache and advanced rapidly up the pitch before executing an inch perfect pass to Alex Hetenyi, who had then only to run 35 yards, beat three defenders, and put a shot past the opposition keeper to score.

The game then became ever more competitive, with captain James Adamson being obliged to relay a warning to his players from the umpire about the number of stick tackles.

Gareth Stockton and Gregor Belcher, occasionally supplemented by Andy Cross, continued to contest midfield, while Sean Couch, Gareth Hughes, and Piers Tremlett were resolute in defence.

In the end though, Stroud scored their fifth goal to wrap up their victory.

Tony Faulkner took the Man of the Match Award for putting his body quite literally on the line at kicking-back.

The team's next home game at Monmouth Boys School Sports Club will be against Cirencester B at 3pm.