Horncastle Hockey Club's Men's Seconds secure 8-0 victory

This week's round-up...
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David DalesAction from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales

Horncastle Hockey Club's Men's Firsts were beaten 2-1 at home by Cambridge South.

After a sloppy start straight from the pushback Horncastle composed themselves and took control of the game.

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Throughout the initial stages Horncastle pressed well, putting the visitors under pressure and restricting them to the occasional counter attack.

Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David DalesAction from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales

The breakthrough finally came midway through the first half when T. White cooly converted a short corner with a drag flick straight to the top left of the Cambs South goal.

A deserved lead for the home side which continued through to half time, with Horncastle creating numerous opportunities but unable to convert to extend their lead.

The second half started with Cambs South firing on all cylinders.

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Stamping their authority on the game and putting Horncastle firmly on the back foot.

Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David DalesAction from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales

The visitors continued to dominate play forcing Horncastle into uncharacteristic errors as they sought to hold on to a slender lead.

Some heroic defending from the Horncastle back line of A. Barker, M. Cullen, M. Branowsky and B. Lound, with some excellent keeping from T. Burton, kept the home side’s hopes alive.

Unfortunately for Horncastle, in spite of some resolute defending, and creating opportunities to extend their lead, it was Cambs South who broke the deadlock.

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With two minutes remaining the visitors were awarded a short corner and were able to execute a well worked set play to bring the score level.

Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David DalesAction from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales

Pushing hard for the final two minutes Horncastle sought to regain their lead but to no avail.

Man of the match was Ash Barker.

The Men's Seconds travelled down to Cambridge to face Cambridge South Fifths - winning 8-0.

Horncastle were a little slow off the mark last week and wanted to change that this week.

Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David DalesAction from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
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From the start Horncastle took control, passing it well around the back and keeping hold of the ball.

The pressure soon paid off and Horncastle won their first short corner.

Dick Bee calmly hit the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal for the first goal.

Later in the half a carbon copy of that goal saw Dick score a second.

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Goals from Zak Legate (two), Sam Edwards and Thomas Scuffham saw Horncastle lead 6-0 at half time.

Great work by Lewis Howden and Jack Hood along with Richard Leggate at the back saw goalie Julian Howden face little action.

Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David DalesAction from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales
Action from this week's home matches. Photo: David Dales

The second half continued with Horncastle in control, and Zak Legate with his third and a goal for Rowan Bramley saw Horncastle maintain their dominance.

An undeserved green card for Lewis Howden briefly saw Horncastle down to 10 men, and Robert Evershed playing football with the ball in the D saw Cambridge's best chance of the match, but Julian Howden saved well.

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The match ended 8-0 to Horncastle, and they maintain their position top of the table.

Horncastle Ladies' Firsts hosted a recently relegated Wisbech Town Firsts side.

The opposition showed an early eagerness and started the game at a quick pace.

Horncastle were forced to match the physicality of the Wisbech side, creating a scrappy game from the off with neither side getting a clear scoring opportunity.

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Horncastle demonstrated some nice phases of play which resulted in them getting the first real opportunity with a Roark strike being denied by the toe of the Wisbech keeper.

This seemed to reignite the Wisbech team who piled the pressure on the home defence made up of A. Tokelove, E. Tokelove, White and goalkeeper Rinfret.

Wisbech broke the deadlock with a goal following a short corner towards the end of the first half.

Following a positive half time talk from head coach Matt Ingram, Horncastle were happy to match the playing pace of Wisbech once again.

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As the half drew on, Wisbech were starting to capitalise on their chances having scored two from short corners.

J. Wood applied some pressure on the Wisbech defence for her efforts to narrowly pass the post.

Despite the game becoming more scrappy, the home side were able so show some nice passages of play, especially between the midfield made up of B. Mason, E. Mason, Leyland and Parslow.

The great play from the midfield and forward lines continued and gained Horncastle their share of short corners; the majority of which were dealt with by the Wisbech defence.

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A clumsy foot by a visiting defender lead to a penalty flick being awarded. Roark stood up to the spot to only be denied by the post.

Wisbech retaliated and made it 4-0.

Player of the Match - Emily Tokelove.

Horncastle Ladies Seconds lost 4-0 to their Wisbech opponents.

A fast paced start saw Horncastle under pressure in defence and quick reactions from Cullen to save ball on goal line were needed.

A great run down wing with a neat pass from Erin Wilkinson found Harriet Wilkinson in front of goal but the Wisbech keeper saved it.

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A fast break from Wisbech 14 minutes in caught the Horncastle defence out and they took the lead.

A short corner won by Wright, taken by Leigh to Wright to E., Wilkinson, was thwarted by solid defensive play by Wisbech.

A short corner for Wisbech was saved by the quick reactions of goalie Beach on her debut.

The second half saw Wisbech score two quick goal in first 15 minutes.

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Horncastle persevered with Cannon, Samra, Leigh and Wright battling to break through with some great passes to Thornalley and Owen on the wings.

Wisbech proved too strong in defence while Horncastle defenders Cullen, Dean and Conway worked hard, making impressive clearances but Wisbech managed a fourth goal.

Player of the match - Ciara Wright.