Men's 1st XI vs Blackheath & Elthamians M2

Cliftonville men’s ones had another Saturday night under the lights match against Blackheath men’s twos.

The game started well with even play throughout for both teams and the boys in red having some chances at goal where they tested the keeper.

It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken with Dan Vinson popping up with a goal eight minutes into the game scoring a nicely, worked goal wrong footing the keeper and slipping it home. This is followed very quickly by a goal scored by Dilkes who has become a regular on the score sheet of recent weeks. The boys were hungry for more with sustained pressure from the front line, not allowing Blackheath the opportunity to test the keeper. The boys stole the ball high up the pitch earning a short corner. The Third goal came from Alex Cowell from the earnt penalty corner which nutmegged the goalkeeper. The team went into the halftime break, cruising at 3-0 the better. The halftime talk from on the day Captain Dan Vinson was that of composure and ensuring that we continue to perform in the same way in the second half to get the job done.

Feeling that a three-goal lead was too much of a Headstart for the second half, Tom decided to use his foot instead of his hockey stick which subsequently led to a two-minute rest on the bench in the form of a green card. However, the halftime team talk clearly struck home as three goals were scored in quick succession of less than five minutes from Dan Vinson who scored two completing his hattrick of the game and a very nicely worked goal for Ned

A momentary lapse in concentration opened up the defensive line and allowed Blackheath a glimmer of hope with a nicely deflected shot at goal making the score 6-1

This was quickly crushed by Harry who very quickly popped up later on with a really well worked goal from supporting act Oscar.

Fresh off his return from South Africa, Archie Bates returned to the squad and made his mark known by dispatching a reverse stick goal into the top left near post stunning both his teammates and the opposition.

Any team would’ve been happy with an 8-1 result, but not for the home team as in the last minute of the game, Harry popped up with a final goal from an assist fresh off the plane bates in buildup play from Isaac rounding the game off 9-1

The men’s ones go into the final game of the first half the season second in the league with high hopes of maintaining the pressure for top spot

SQUAD:

·        Dan Vinson (Capt.), Archie Bates, Alex Cowell, Isaac Dilkes, Harry Harrison, Tom Harrison, Charlie Morgan, Ned Naisbitt, Alex Newson, Oscar Percival, James Provins, Josh Tutton, Jamie Ullyett