Mens 1st Team
Matches
Sat 19 Sep 2015  ·  Intermediate League 1
Durham City Hockey Club
Mens 1st Team
A Hulse (12'), (43'), J Talbot (17'), I Mason (37'), D Jones (60')
5
2
Durham City 2nds
No surprises in the in-house game between Durham's top two teams

No surprises in the in-house game between Durham's top two teams

James Talbot19 Sep 2015 - 18:40
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#5-2 #Durhamisthewinner

In a game where all the pressure was on the 1sts to perform, they did not disappoint, where the two teams met in friendly, yet competitive circumstances and was enjoyable for both despite the score-line.

And so it was, on a radiant day in Durham that the top two teams of Durham City Hockey Club, a titan among hockey clubs, clashed in the opening game of the new season. Friend met friend on opposite sides of a pitch that made them foes. The nature of such contests can be such that knowing the other team so well can lead to dull affairs, where strengths are countered by canny tactics. This was not the case however, as the 2nds were determined to not let this encounter be a foregone conclusion and made the 1sts work for their victory in an openly attacking game.

In truth however, this played somewhat into the hands of the 1sts, as the attacking play of the 2nds left gaps open to counter-attack. Dave Jones made a trademark crunching tackle at the back and had the presence of mind to quickly offload the ball to Iain Mason. Mason and Jambo linked well in the middle to charge forward on the counter, as Anthony Hulse made a gargantuan effort to get forwards early and was rewarded for his effort by being picked out by Mason in the D. Calm and composed, Hulse swept the ball from the left side of the D into the outside corner, out side of the outstretched keeper Johnny Vickers.

This seemed to deflate the 2nds slightly, which allowed the 1sts more time on the ball to control the play. After a patient build up, Darren James managed to find a pass to Jambo on the top of the D. He was quickly closed down, but he managed to find himself a pocket of space towards the left of the goal. Before he could be closed down again, Jambo struck on his reverse, sending the ball flying into the right hand corner of the goal at a pace that the keeper Vickers could do nothing about.

This seemed to kick some more life in the 2nds, who would not be outdone by fellow club-mates and friends. Once more they piled on the pressure and were rewarded by a free hit on the edge of the D. Some quick thinking by Rich Evans led to a quickly taken free hit which caught the defense off-guard. Driving into the D, he slipped the ball off to Joe Rennolds, who swept the ball first time to wrong-foot keeper Rich Root. And so it was 2-1.

Thereafter in the first half, the 1sts kept an unrelenting attack, winning some penalty corners. All credit to the 2nds defense, they held firm, seeing keeper Vickers make some important saves, keeping them in the game.

Not satisfied with their lead, knowing the potential for the 2nds to deal out more damage, the 1sts went into half-time focused on how to exploit their knowledge of the 2nds to their advantage. So it was then, that early into the second half Durham 1sts won another penalty corner. After an intelligent team analysis at half time, Jambo slipped the ball from the top of D to Mason at right slip. He had the time to tee himself up and leather a shot into the corner of the goal.

As the half went on, fitness began to come into play and as gaps started to open up in the game, the 1sts were able to take advantage. Good hassling out at left midfield from Tim Hargreaves lead to a turnover of play and the 1sts were on the counterattack. Mason was picked out by a pass in the D and could just about squeeze away a shot under pressure from keeper Vickers, but he was denied by brilliant defending instincts of Alan Dawson, who in the right place on the line to prevent a goal. Unfortunately for Dawson, his good instincts were counter-acted by the equally good attacking instincts of Hulse, who was on hand to pounce on the momentarily loose ball to put it away into the unguarded net.

Some skillful play in Durham 2nds D lead to yet another penalty corner. Having become wise to the movement of the defending 2nds players, the 1sts adopted a new routine to the game. The ball was injected in by Dave Jones to the top to Jambo. Jambo sent the ball ball straight back towards Jones's side of the goal for Jones to step forwards and sweep the ball into the goal, squeezing the ball between keeper and post.

At 5-1 then, the game looked done and dusted. At least it did to everyone except the 2nds, who would not admit defeat. Playing for pride, they refreshed their efforts anew and so it was that the ball was crashed in from the top of the D to the back post, where up-and-coming junior Joe Rennolds showed instincts to rival that of the experienced Hulse to pop up at exactly the right time to deflect the ball into the net. Durham 2nds could walk away with pride and their heads held high.

If this game is anything to go by, the Durham teams will go from strength to strength and the return fixture will be something to watch.

Goals:
1sts:
Anthony Hulse x2
Iain Mason
Jambo
Dave Jones

2nds:
Joe Rennolds x2

Match details

Match date

Sat 19 Sep 2015

Kickoff

13:30

Competition

Intermediate League 1
Team overview
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