Colchester HC Men 1 Vs Bourne Deeping HC Men’s 1st XI

Starting with a bare 11 due to travelling issues, Bourne Deeping lost the toss and the home side took the ball. Colchester started the game extremely well, driving down their right and forcing a decent save from the goal keeper. Eventually the visiting side settled into the game and it wasn’t long before Nick Glover found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper but was unable to despatch the ball into the goal. Playing some great attacking hockey, Scott David Downie was allowed to make a great run down the right and fire across the D to a well received deflection from Nick Glover into the goal. 0-1. With the dragon tails held aloft it didn’t take long for them to find a second goal after Andy Kind passed to Ben Slack, who continued his great goal scoring form by nut-megging the keeper and doubling the dragons advantage. 0-2. Playing some fantastic hockey the visitors continued their assault on the home sides circle. After winning the short corner, Ben Slack then set up Phil Arnold to take the dragons to three. 0-3. Unfortunately for Phil after scoring the goal, he turned from hero to villain as he was awarded a yellow card and a sit on the sideline for the remainder of the half after the umpires decided his challenge on the Colchester attacker was a bit rough. The Dragons held onto their lead to half time with 10 men and feeling pretty happy with their efforts so far.

HT: Colchester 0 – 3 BDHC

Starting the second half with a full compliment of players, the Dragons knew that it would be a difficult half with only 11 players and Colchester having a full squad and rotating well. It didn’t take long for the home side to start piling on the pressure and if it wasn’t for an acrobatic save from the Bourne Deeping keeper they would of found themselves back in it early. Wave after wave of Colchester attacks came and were absorbed well by the tireless efforts of the Dragon defensive team. The breakthrough finally came for the home team when they were awarded a penalty corner and played it around well to finally put themselves on the score sheet 1-3. The home side continued their waves of attacks and were able to keep running hard using the interchange players intelligently to wear down the Bourne Deeping guard. Colchester scored their second of the afternoon when the ball found its way across the D for their forward to knock in at the back post. 2-3 and game on. Trying their hardest to hold onto all 3 points the Dragons continued to play the way they have been and managed a few break away chances that maybe some fresher legs may have had more joy with. With minutes remaining the Dragons thought they could hold onto all of the points and boost their leaguer survival hopes. These hops were dashed when a dubious decision from the umpire awarded Colchester a penalty flick after a player tripped over in the D but was called as a push from the umpire at the far end. Hoping to keep the points for his team, Captain Page faced the Colchester flicker and although he went the right way just missed out on keeping the ball out of his goal. 3-3. Moments later the final whistle blew and after a tremendous effort from the visiting side with only 11 players, managed to hold onto the draw.

FT: Colchester 3 - 3 BDHC