Hailsham Hockey Club |
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Sussex Ladies Hockey Association |
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Hailsham 1st X1 5 v Lewes Vths 1
Unlucky Lewes succumbed to a torrent of Hailsham goals at the Park College astro in a match that was never quite as one sided as the score suggests.
With just one point from two games Hailsham made an uncertain start and it was Lewes who looked the sharper side in the opening ten minutes. However, Hailsham were welcoming back from holiday the influential midfielder Sam Rham and by the midway point in the first half his cultured performance in both attack and defence was beginning to dictate the play.
Gradually the home side passing began to click and the direct running of Ian Johnson through the centre and Steve Johnson down the right was starting to cause panic in the Lewes defence. Inevitably the concerted Hailsham pressure paid off when James Dyer stole in from the left wing and withstood a clattering from the Lewes goalie before calmly sliding the ball home.
Five minutes later it was 2 - 0 when another Steve Johnson dart down the right produced a pass for Mike Dixon on the right hand side of the D. His cross was controlled in front of goal by Ben Stiles who held off tackles from two defenders and the keeper before pushing the ball over the line.
Life got even sweeter for the Hailsham outfit shortly before half time when they made it three. Dixon intercepted a Lewes pass on the half way line and immediately fed Ian Johnson. The centre forward still had a lot to do but he did it in style, outpacing his marker and thumping the ball home.
In the second half the pattern of play never suggested a Lewes revival partly thanks to the solidity of the Hailsham back three. Skipper Richard Bishop's tackles were timed to perfection and Jim Major's clearances from the back were consistently finding Hailsham forwards. Between the full backs Laurens Dyer patrolled with his customary efficiency and on the odd occasion that the Hailsham goal was seriously threatened Hailsham keeper Dave Hathaway continued his fine run of form.
More Hailsham goals always looked on the cards and it was right winger Neil Phillips who now got in on the act with a double. First he fired home from a difficult angle after being fed by Ian Johnson and then, after a far from consoling goal for a dejected Lewes side, he scored the Hailsham fifth sweeping the ball home after another raid down the right wing by Steve Johnson.
On Saturday Hailsham travel to Southwick without the Johnson brothers who are on holiday but with greatly improved morale after this emphatic victory.
MID SUSSEX MARTLETS 9 HAILSHAM II 0
Hailsham seconds came back down to earth with a bump following their opening day victory with a heavy defeat against a good, experienced side.
With several first choice men missing, all replaced by inexperienced players, Hailsham were up against it from the start and were 3-0 down within the first ten minutes.
Defender Frank Prendergast picked up a bad leg injury after just two minutes but had to play on as the side had no substitutes available.
The strong home side had built up a commanding 5-0 lead by half-time as Hailsham spent virtually the whole half defending.
The second half began more promisingly with Hailsham mounting a few attacks, but once Mid Sussex went 6-0 ahead it was more of the same.
The only moment of light relief for Hailsham came when unfortunate midfielder Tony Newton's stick broke in half as he tried to clear from defence, the lower half flying through the air. Unfortunately the resulting loose ball trickled to an attacking player who swept it home to make it 7-0.
Only a succession of fine saves by Hailsham goalkeeper Craig Tasane kept the score down to single figures on what was a day which saw Hailsham's experienced side learn a few lessons about defending.
Saturday sees the seconds' first home game of the season, against Lewes (11.30am kick-off).