"Inspiration takes many forms and can be found in the strangest of places" - Abraham Lincoln , 1976.

This was certainly true today as the Men's 4s took inspiration from an injury to their Maori Marauder and turned in an excellent last 15 minutes to beat rivals Edgbaston 2-0 at the Uni today. Games against Edgbaston are usually scrappy, full of mistakes and take on a life of their own as form goes out the window. This was no different. Spoonaldinho spoke of focusing on the possibilities of succes rather the potential for failure in his pre game team talk. Powerful words from our leader. Words that we did not follow through on in a very scrappy first half. The bouncy pitch played havoc with our slick passing game with a number of players being reduced to looking like complete newcomers to the sport. It was still an entertaining first half with both sides creating a number of half chances but neither being able to convert these in to goals. Unsurprisingly it was 0-0 at half time.

Once again, Spoonaldinho spoke from the heart. He reminded us who we were and what we were about. He spoke about being true to our word. More importantly, he spoke about all the last ditch tackles he made in the first half. One. It didn't work. Edgbaston began the second half like a team possessed. They hemmed us into our own half and pressured us into mistakes. Crooksy dropped back into defense and started distributing the ball (Crash ball). This forced our opponents back and we got some joy with Planty going close after being part of an Edge sandwich. Then came the games defining moment. Sensing that Edge were beginning to get a foothold, up stepped Andrew Hope. He bravely decided to head a stick resulting in a deep gash above the eye. The game was held up as everybody rushed to his aid and tried to patch him up. Everyone except the actual doctor on the pitch. After 5 minutes, it was decided that Hopie could not continue. The cut was too deep and the bandage was blocking his eyesight.

Inspired by this selfless act, we woke up and began to play hockey. Not long after our comrades demise, JT won a ball and played it to Adam who smashed it bottom corner to give us the lead. Hopie celebrated on the sideline and took himself off to A and E, safe in the knowledge that he had won the game for Harborne. We then dominated the game with Adam going close again. He was like a man possessed in those 10 minutes post Hopie, causing havoc amongst the Edge defence. A fitting tribute to our Kiwi friend. With 5 minutes remaining, those in attendence were treated to a thing of beauty. The lesser seen Pedro picked up the ball just outside the D on the right. He looked up and spotted O'Shea free at the top of the D. He looked around for a better pass. There was none. He played a perfectly weighted ball into O'Shea.
Time stood still. O'Shea with his back to goal, trapped the ball and flicked it up on to his reverse side, eliminating 24 players. It was an exquisite piece of skill and definitely NOT a poor touch. He pirouetted like a Russian ballerina and with the ball still in the air, volleyed it passed a bamboozled Edge goalie. Edge players stood with their mouths wide open, Spoons sprinted from centre back to jump on the goalscorer and Will Pitt gave a wry smile having been on the end of a few in training through the years. A fitting way to end the game. There was still time for Edge to miss an absolute sitter from a yard.

Full Time 2-0.

MOTM : Joint winners this week. Crooksy and Adam despite Spoons voting for himself again!
DOTD: Hopie. Honourable mention to Simon.

**Hopie is okay and will be available next week. What an inspiration