The 4 or so spectators who decided to watch the 864th* installment of the 'Borne Derby were treated to a series of highlights. Ranging from Hopies wonder goal, O'Shea's first ever proper reverse goal to Planty not having a shot on goal in open play, it was an entertaining game.
We started off the game playing some patient hockey, passing it across the back. While this was a new departure for the 4's , we coped with it well until after 43 seconds when we gave the ball straight to Bourneville. The first half was uneventful for the opening ten minutes with neither side really stamping their authority on the occasion. Eventually Harborne began to get a foothold on the game and pass it round, shifting Bourneville about. We won a series of shorts which while on target, were dealt with by Bourneville. Then the breakthrough came. Mikey Brett picked up the ball on his reverse, meandered for a bit and passed it to Planty. Planty then fed O'Shea , who stopped it and fired a rasping reverse shot to the bottom right corner. Isaac doing his best to steal it from 1/4 of an inch out. 1-0 to the Harborne. From here we decided to play like we were 1-0 down for the next ten mins, giving the ball away and giving Bourneville a route back in to the game. That was until Andrew Hope of the Ngāti Toa people picked up the ball somewhere near Mount Victoria. He glided his way through the Hutt Valley, around Mount Taranki and found his way in the Bournville half , beating 11 players before unleashing a shot that Tūmatauenga would have been proud of. He wheeled away like a young Alan Shearer while his team mates stood in disbelief taking in what had just happened. 2-0 Harborne.

Harborne then took over for the rest of the half, piecing together some lovely passages of play. It was almost 3-0 just before half time when Isaac went through the middle after great link up play with Planty and O'Shea. Unfortunately his composure couldn't keep up with his pace and he sent the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Half Time 2-0

The second half began like the second half of the last derby v Edge. Letting them have the ball. We eventually woke from our Squashies coma and began to take control with Andy and Crooks providing the legs and diving tackles in the middle. The 3rd duly arrived. It was very similar to the 3rd v Barford a few weeks ago. Crooksy knocked it to Planty who moved it wide to JT, who drew the man and played it to O'Shea, who then fired it into Isaac who'd arrived in the D unmarked. He drew the goalkeeper and pushed it passed him. 3-0 and game over. With the game wrapped up, Crooky's hamstring decided to finish early for Christmas. This led to a re-shuffle with Isaac going up front and O'Shea doing his best Alan Smith impression, moving from being a lumbering centre forward to being a lumbering centre mid for the last ten mins. Thankfully the game was in the bag when JT did his best to talk himself into a green card but somehow managed to broker a peace deal. With two minutes remaining, we won a short. Planty, who had no joy all game, lined up the straight strike. It was dragged out perfectly, stopped perfectly, hit..... not quite perfectly. JT got a touch which took it round the keeper and Andy was on hand to see it home to put the icing on the cake!
Full Time 4-0

A positive end to a positive half season. We currently sit 4th in the league having played some good hockey.

MOTM Andy, comprehensive winner of the vote despite Hopie's goal.

Goals: O'Shea, Hopie, Isaac, Andy S
Assists: Planty, O'Shea, JT

* Very rough estimation