Opponents: Sheffield 2 Competition: National League Division 1 Date: Saturday 17th January 2009 Venue: Bacon's College, Rotherhithe Result: W 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22)
Headline: Docklands move out of the relegation zone with critical win
Author: Andy Hopper
London Docklands Volleyball moved out of the relegation zone of Division 1 of the National League with a critical win against bottom side Sheffield 2. With their first team flying high at the top of the league Sheffield 2 were hoping to start 2009 with a bang as they attempt to turn their season around. Their last victory was on the final day of the 2007-08 season - a five-set win against Leicester which secured their promotion from Div 2. However, their first match of the year couldn't have got off to a worse start after their match kit was delayed en route and they had to start the match in non-matching kit with tape for numbers. When it arrived mid-way through the first set they called a time out to get properly attired. By that time they were already 15-8 down with Docklands in full control. Alexis Blair and Wayne Davies were consistently breaching the Sheffield defence and a service run by Alex Gaitan helped Docklands close out the first set 25-13.
After making eight unforced errors in the first set, Sheffield produced a more disciplined display in set two and consequently kept pace with Docklands. The home side couldn't boast a significant lead until an ace by Blair took his side 14-11 up. Further Docklands' service pressure and a block by Matt Butterworth on Oliver Kimber took them 21-17 ahead and seemingly on their way to taking a 2-0 lead. Docklands moved onto lead 23-20 but then two hitting errors and a kill by Sheffield's Mike Melbourne put the pressure back on Docklands. Then Pete Bakare, a player who trained with Docklands last season, used he phenomenal jump to shut out Butterworth, to set up Sheffield's first set point. After two attempts to kill the ball by Matt Mills, Sheffield captain Jim Miller used a clever second touch attack to seal a 25-23 second set win.
Docklands started set three on fire and raced to a 7-2 lead with the help of a powerful run of serves by Blair. But Sheffield fought back with some strong blocking to level the scores at 9-9. Two hitting errors then undid their good work and Docklands took advantage with blocks by Gaitan and Butterworth piling the pressure back on the young Sheffield side. Docklands produced some of their best volleyball of the season as they powered their way to a 25-17 third set win.
Docklands again had a flying start to the set and led 5-1 and later 18-13, honing in on a four set victory. However, Sheffield were not giving up and a run of tricky serves by Adam Kendray got his side back in the match to tie the scores at 18-18. Two consecutive kills by Bakare took the visitors 20-19 up as they turned up the volume on their post point celebrations. A couple of clever shots by Mills and Davies restored Docklands' lead but two kills by Sam Bussey kept Sheffield in the set. However, it was two errors in row from Bussey that gave Docklands breathing space at 24-22 and Blair took his chance to win the fourth set 25-22.
The win propelled Docklands up to seventh place in the league and with the reverse fixture next Sunday, they will hope to add another win to their tally. However, before that they face league leaders Sheffield 1 on Saturday in the first of two matches in the steel city.
Two of Docklands' longest serving athletes reached significant landmarks in today's match. Andy Vincett played in his 200th match whilst Martin Blake was making his 150th appearance. Unfortunately they only had cameo roles in the match but their contributions over the last 13 years cannot be under-estimated and were recognised by the club with a couple of presentations.
Docklands: Davies 11 kills (24 attempts), Vincett 0 (0), Bos 4 (8), Mills 8 (24), Gaitan 4 (9), Blake 0 (0), Blair 17 (36), Butterworth 4 (14), Senatore (Libero). Subs not used: Halatchev, Hitchcock.
Sheffield 2: Kendray 7 (26), Miller 2 (8), Duncan 0 (8), Bakare 4 (5), Kimber 1 (8), Melbourne 9 (24), Brewer 1 (3), Messam 0 (0), Bussey 9 (23), Baker (Libero).
Black Knight: Wayne Davies