Match Report  (courtesy of Dave Wackrill)

   Adeyfield 1st   10 - 0   Adeyfield B 

SPARKLING DEBUT FOR VELI 

Well not quite, perhaps, as Veli Prahanarov was on the wrong end of a whitewash, but still an impressive Hemel league debut for the 15 year old.  No cutting his teeth in the lower divisions for this prodigy, whose start to the season had been delayed by a broken thumb.  Veli is coached by Michael Boardman and plays very much in the style of his mentor, the pupil even taking a game from the master who, remember, has won the League Singles title 10 times over.

While Michael and I celebrated our 150th match playing together for Adeyfield, it was our team-mate, Mark York, who stole our thunder with a stunning performance of almost brutal efficiency.  No one got near him.  He was brilliant. 

I struggled against the clean, crisp, and precise hitting of Martin Johnson and was happy to win in 5 games in the evening’s only close encounter, and was taken to 4 games by both Bogdan Coman and by Veli. 

Shot of the night goes to Veli for an amazing lob from under the balcony at the clock end of Adeyfield hall.  I had smashed a high ball firmly enough (well, so I thought) for a winner, but hadn't reckoned on Veli chasing it down by the entrance door and making a brilliant return for a winner of his own.  A bright future awaits him.