Hailsham Hockey Club |
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Affiliated to: Sussex Hockey Association |
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The form book said this result couldn't happen. Before Saturday Penguins 2nds were sitting pretty at the top of Division 1 with a 100% record. Hailsham brought a more modest record to the match but at the final whistle it was Hailsham who were celebrating after producing a scintillating performance.
Hailsham's play in the first half could hardly have been bettered and it left Penguins in an almighty flap. No-one could have predicted that at half time the score would read Penguins 0 Hailsham 4 but the visitors were great value for their astonishing lead.
Centre forward Ian Johnson started the rout with a typically well taken goal when he made space for himself and thumped the ball home and five minutes later when Steve Johnson's goal bound shot was illegally stopped Sam Rham stepped up and produced a lightning fast penalty flick that gave the keeper no chance.
Buoyed by this great start Hailsham continued to hassle and harry denying a skilful Penguins side any time on the ball. The home side passing became increasingly erratic and Hailsham took advantage again when James Dyer employed his predatory instincts inside the D to force the ball home to make it 3 - 0.
Five minutes before half time Hailsham put themselves in a seemingly invincible position when Ian Johnson picked out Mike Dixon's diagonal run across the D allowing the Hailsham mid fielder to hit a reverse stick shot between the keeper and his right hand post.
The half time team talk focussed on concentration and the need to withstand the assault that a wounded Penguins side would inevitably launch. Sure enough Penguins threw everything at the opposition but crucially Hailsham did not concede a goal for the first fifteen minutes of the half. When Penguins did pull one back following a cross that appeared to be lifted into the D it was always going to be too little too late on a day when Hailsham played with total commitment and determination. Penguins scored again five minutes from the end but a superbly self assured Hailsham defence never looked seriously rattled.
Skipper Richard Bishop rightly summed up the situation at the end of the game when he said, "It 's impossible to pick a man of the match today - there were eleven of them out there."
After a stuttering start to the season Hailsham have now recorded two emphatic victories against two of the best teams in the division ensuring that the title race this year will be wide open.
Appalling conditions meant that both teams did well to produce a competitive match that was played in a good spirit.
Unfortunately for Hailsham they took the pitch with only ten players as a result of injuries and unavailability and this was too big a handicap to carry against one of the best teams in the division.
Even so Hailsham were in contention at half time trailing just 2 - 1. after a determined and energetic performance. It was certainly a memorable game for Lucy Smith who recorded her first goal for Hailsham but in the second half Horsham's extra player made all the difference and as the Hailsham legs tired they conceded a third goal and had to watch the game slip beyond their grasp. In the last few minutes Pam Winter made an outstanding goal line clearance to keep the score respectable but in the end a talented Horsham side thoroughly deserved their victory.
Hailsham seconds picked up their first point in five games but had enough pressure to have won the game.
Turning in their best performance of the season so far, Hailsham dominated the first half but somehow contrived to go in a goal down at the break.
Almost constant possession and pressure couldn't be transformed into goals and on a St Francis break the visitors took the lead with a slightly fortunate goal.
In a move which started with a clear foot offence by a St Francis player which was missed byu their umpire, keeper Craig Tasane raced out of his goal to cut out a through-ball. The ball got past him and after the resulting shot took a wicked deflection, the ball span and eluded two defenders on the goal-line.
Hailsham were on top again in the second half and once more the midfield and attack combined nicely. They equalised when a good passing move saw William Martin feed Jon Kemm who drove the ball home powerfully from the edge of the D.
Hailsham will be looking for another good performance when they travel to Southwick on Saturday.