Due to the frustrating weather, this was the first college hockey match played in three weeks.
The 9 am start, coupled with chilly winds and low temperatures, was not reflected in the highly enthusiastic play from both teams. Goodricke had to play with only 7 players due to them missing two girls.
Despite Halifax pressure from the first whistle, Goodricke seized the first goal. A college version of a short corner was awarded after Rory Walker defended the ball off the back line. Daniel Gilks deflected the hit-in magnificently on his reverse stick past the Halifax defenders.
However, Halifax’s well drilled (and complete) team used the spaces well, slotting the ball wide and benefitted from some very intelligent positioning. Alex Francis for Halifax snatched the next goal to even the scoreline.
The teamwork of the mid players worked the ball up and college stalwart, Cat Johnson, ran beautifully onto the post to slot it home, a technique that was going to pay off in the match.
Halifax claimed the next goal after a shot from Isaac Barker hit a Goodricke foot on the goal line, resulting in a ‘penalty goal’ being given. Basically, this is given in college hockey when a goal is stopped by a foul, in avoids the complication of deciding how a penalty flick would be given in a situation lacking a goalie.
Halifax took the next three goals with especially good play from Ali Allana and Alex Francis. Johnson took Halifax’s 4th goal of the match in the same manner as her first, deflecting it in from the far post. James McNeill and Allana scored the next two.
However, Goodricke did give the Halifax defence some heart stopping moments, capitalising from a distracted Halifax defence. Both Alex Macdonald and Tom Merriman broke from the midfield to power down the pitch, unluckily not resulting in goals. The half ended with score 6-1 in ‘Fax’s favour.
Goodricke scored first in the second half, after skilful and dogged defending on the goal line kept Halifax from extending their lead. Ben Crawley recovered from his earlier yellow card for heckling umpire Clem Sun whilst on the bench. His goal brought the score to 2-6 after leaving the defence eating his dust to power the ball into the open goal. Goodricke were forced to defend soon after but Aileen Steel cleared the ball under pressure on the line to stop a certain goal.
Isaac Barker and Cat Johnson scored Halifax’s last two goals, after Halifax had been forced to defend some very good breaks driving past the unprepared defence. One particularly good drive from Tom Merriman looked almost certain to result in a goal but unluckily (or luckily if you are from Halifax) he lost the ball. The final score stood at 8-2 to Halifax.
Vision MOM: Tom Merriman
nice report. we only got 7 on the pitch though.