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Men's Summer League Results

Men's Summer League Results

Colin Ainsworth18 May 2019 - 13:23
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Shepton 4 - 6 NSHC NSHC 5 - 5 Yate

The Summer league season is now well under way. The Men's team have so far had 2 matches, the first I didn't attend, but was the long trip over to Shepton Mallett in the evening to play a club we have been facing in the league with mixed results. However despite Shepton's best efforts make it a difficult game for us we came away with a good 6-4 away win with one goal for Sam Aldridge, two for Harry Croker (from about a dozen chances) and a hat trick for Lewis Francuz.

The game against Yate was rather affected by the traffic conditions. Due to the inability of people to see stationary traffic ahead of them on the Avonmouth bridge there was a crash badly affecting rush hour, so when the game should have been starting we were 2 players down and Yate had 3 players arrive (with a combined age probably less than 50!).

To boost our numbers Shaun Huxham put down his half drunk can of Haze and went home to get changed and after waiting for 50 minutes for all of the Yate team to arrive we could get the game underway on a warm evening almost perfect for hockey.

The game started at a good pace and it was clear that the Yate players were well organised and had set out their game plan. We had changed things around again due to a large squad being available. We moved the ball well and found more space don the right than we would have expected with Dan Kaye on his senior debut and Jack Colling giving them some work to do. But we didn't really get it across to the left very well where the skillful Callum Black was waiting to run riot.

Whilst trying to encourage and direct some of the play from the sidelines I didn't make a great note of the order of the goals, but our first cam from a strong shot from Jack which was partially saved by the young goalkeeper, and then hidden from umpire Fraser's view as it crossed the line. Captain Rob O'Neill was very vocal in informing the umpires of the situation, but good sportsmanship from Yate confirmed it and allowed the goal to stand. Jack scored his second as Harry shot straight into the centre of the smallest goalkeeper he will face and Jack put the rebound away neatly.

The Yate goals then came from long balls seemingly cutting out our midfield and the movement of their front two always seemed to find someone in space to give Steve Proctor little chance while protecting our net.

At half time there was a little juggle around of positions, especially to bring Callum more into play and with Tom Broome arriving (only about 1 1/4 late) giving us some serious pace off the ball down the left. The game though continued in much the same vein as the first half and seemed very scrappy from our side, trying to rush forwards rather than build properly, although it got us goals, it left us exposed at the back. We were never behind in the game and the second half goals came from Rob with a great reverse shot and two from Harry Croker, whose second came from a late short corner and well worked to give him a free shot neatly finished in the corner.

We thought that was the enough to see us over he line, but Yate played quickly from the restart and one fo their best players struck the ball fiercly from just inside our half for their centre forward to just get a touch on and deflect past a stranded Proctor.

The result was pretty fair on the play, just disappointing that we didn't play as we could have. The next game is at home on Tuesday 21st at 1930 for those who want to come and watch and will be hopefully a first outing for one of the umpires who passes the course on Sunday.

The ladies games have started, but I haven't been passed any results, however i know they won their game on Tuesday against Winscombe. If you pass me a report I'll make sure it goes up. The ladies next game is also on Tuesday, but at 1900 at Clevedon School.

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