U18 Boys: Havant 3 Reading 6
By Reading Hockey Club • Nov 14th, 2007 • Category: Match Reports, News, U18 Boys18 Boys began the new campaign having waved goodbye to 10 of last year’s Cup Winning squad, and, after only 2 x 1 hour training sessions and no practice match, with some trepidation. Havant were formidable opponents first up – and early nerves were not helped by their apparent presumption that they were going to the Finals.
We welcomed Joe Yates, Andy Hammond and Josh Bottomley as newcomers from the end of last season, and a lot of others, including 4 U16′s, stepped up to the plate.
Squad: McDermottroe; Atkins; Barber; Yates; Cattermole; Stansford; Barker; Newman; Hammond; Bottomley; Kapoor; Russell; Land; Cook and Parkes.
Nervous beginnings saw us go behind to a rather “easy” penalty corner, but from that point forward McD was exceptional and the rest of the side dug in and took control. Alex Land equalised with a deft spin turn that sent goalkeeper and defender in different directions, and then an audacious lob over the keeper and successful follow up and a Ben Cook special eased the Blue Machine into a 3-1 lead.
Quality “Reading Hockey” continued to flow at speed and 4-1 arrived (Ben Cook)before the nerves started as Havant pressed to get to 4-2 (bit of a soft goal). Further speedy sorties saw Chris N and Alex exchange passes before scoring (both have claimed it) and Ben completed a happy hat-trick to leave us in great command at 6-2. Slight defensive panic let them put us under pressure, but apart from one good drag flick (6-3), McD was equal to everything thrown at him at a succession of penalty corners.
Top quality game and an impressive outing from a new squad who are certainly going to score some goals. Everyone was involved and all contributed positively to the result
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