MATCH REPORTS
Horncastle 7 aside mixed tournament, Sunday 27th June 2010
What was estimated to be the hottest day of the year, Spalding hockey club entered a team, that has only played together once before, to play in the mixed 7 a-side tournament at Horncastle.
Spalding got off to a better start than the previous tournament, with the opening goal coming from Jacqui Hunter slipping the ball to Roz Dennis to place it pass the keeper in a training style goal. The opposition soon replied making the score 1-1. Richard Price was outstanding in goal, making save after save and frustrating the Hotshots’ attackers.
The second game saw Spalding against a well organized and experience team in Magnificent 7. Spalding opened the lead when Roz’s shot was saved by the keeper, only for Glenn Perkins to pounce and get the rebound. Magnificent 7 applied pressure after pressure, but with Pricey on form they didn’t stand a chance, until a topped ball saw it go passed him to make the score line even. Spalding upped their game with chance after chance but the keeper keeping the opposition in the game leaving the score line 1-1. Jacqui Hunter came close to a penalty when the keeper literally rammed into her when she was about to receive the ball, but went unnoticed by the umpire.
After a long wait Spalding came up against who they thought looked the strongest team so far in Lincoln, and who won the Louth tournament only 3 weeks before. Spalding rose to the challenge and dominated the game, with Shads and Laura Watling making outstanding tackling in defence, Roz and Keith Stennett in the midfield, Glenn causing their defence endless problems and Jacqui making opportunities for the midfielders, the deadlock was finally broken with Glenn laying the ball on for Shads to strike it past the stranded keeper. After that and a technical change in defence and upfront, Nik found senior Perkins in the D to slot it wonderfully in the corner of the goal to make it a glorious win to set Spalding into the Semi finals. This was the game that saw all players playing their best hockey and starting gel as a team.
The final game of the round saw a family affair making its debut with Rachel Perkins in defence with her dad, brother Glenn playing behind the striker and cousin Roz in midfield, Spalding dominated again. Pricey made sure nothing came anywhere near the goal and Keith was still energetic after games of constant running around the pitch. But the opening came from the family with Rachel tackling well to pass to her dad and between Nik, Senior Perkins and Glenn, saw Glenn in for the rebound after his dad’s shot was saved, making it a well deserved win and saw Spalding top their group.
The Semi final saw Spalding play against Leadenham, which was a very tight game. Leadenham opened the game with a goal from a short corner and were leading until the final 5 minutes when Glenn struck the ball at pace from the top of the D, leaving Leadenham’s defence and keeper helpless to stop it, and evening the score line sending the game into penalty flicks. Penalty flicks for Spalding were taken by Glenn, who’s shot went wide, but the scorers to see Spalding into the final were Keith, Shads and Pricey, who took his flick still in full goal keeping kit.
The final was against the team Spalding met in the first round, Hotshots. This was a tightly contested match, and a very hot and tired Spalding still showed fighting spirit with numerous strikes and near misses from Shads, Senior Perkins and Jacqui, but Glenn was a headache to the defence who couldn’t get near him and coolly shot passed the keeper to take Spalding into the lead and a step closer to getting their hands on the cup. Hotshots proved to be a side with determination and a well executed reverse stick shot took the score to 1- 1and into another penalty decider.
This time Glenn made sure his shot went in, Keith kept his cool and slotted it passed the keeper. At this point Spalding were 2-1 up with Pricey saving their shots, but Spalding couldn’t capitalize and Hotshots were able to win the tournament 3-2 on penalty flicks.