Cliftonville HC v Folkestone Blue
Push Back: 20:30
Final Score: 1-1 (Kat O'Hara)
Match Report: Alex Cowell
Friday night saw the return of the summer mixed hockey based down in Folkestone at Three Hills.
With some new faces joining the summer league team Ville were excited to get the game underway. After a good pre-match team talk from Captain Kat and a gentle warm-up Ville were eager to get the game underway.
An intense start full of energy showed Ville had good intentions to want to try and come on away with the win, however, Folkestone matched the same intensity and with both teams, looking to try and score through the middle of the pitch, it was very much a stalemate with both looking at equal opportunities to try and score goals. Both teams made good attempts at goal, but not quite finding the final strike that was required to see them leading at the halftime. Folkstone almost had an opportunity from a penalty corner. However, Tom Cawdron at the post, read the flight of the ball well and deflected it away from the goal, keeping the score level.
At half-time the message was clear, and the team knew a slight tweak in play, which hopefully would involve less running (although you never know in the summer league) and more attacking play through the width, would achieve the outcome we were after.
The second half started strong with good clinical play from the team and Archie picking the ball up deep in his own half and combining with Leanne and Kat lead to an opportunity for what could’ve been an impressive attack. This was unfortunately short-lived as Folkestone managed to make a breakaway and in quick succession strung together three passes that led to a sweeping deflection and over the keeper Darren, who, despite being in the perfect position couldn’t quite read the flight of the ball which led to the opening goal.
Ville did not get disheartened they pushed on with good attacks from Tom and his blistering pace, as well as good possession from Sophia higher up the pitch. This effort eventually paid off with a corner being earned from the mighty Ville. A slight variation from the normal routine meant that the ball went straight to the left slip and Kat flicked the ball through the keepers legs. Ville were back in the game at 1-1.
The team continued to press and despite numerous positive attacks couldn’t quite find the second goal that would lead to the win. The game finished as a draw, which one considering all the new fresh faces that were part of the summer squad wasn’t a bad start to our summer campaign. The team look forward to next week, but hopefully we can continue to be unbeaten and start to put winning points on the board.
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