Results – 29/30 January
Saturday:
WIN – Men’s 1 won 8-2 away to Leicester Westleigh 1
Goals: Sam Bryant (3), Alex Hammant (3), Harrison Ginn & Robert Read
WIN – Men’s 2 won 6-0 at home to Warwick 4
Goals: Jordan Allen (2), Ryan Harrison (2), Elliot Roper & Michael Joffe
WIN – Men’s 4 won 3-1 away to Sikh Union Coventry 3
Goals: Steven Pateman (2) & Noel Burton
Licking their wounds from last week, today saw the Mens 4s put out a team of age, experience, youth and enthusiasm against a Coventry side of a similar composition. The pre match Keepers Union exchange warned of things to come. Another near top-of-the-table clash with everything to play for. The scene was set.
A slightly delayed pushback saw Harborough playing into the winter sun, making it challenging for our forwards to see the goal. An early foul was and the Harborough defenders expected a whistle which never came as the young Coventry striker slotted home through the visiting keeper’s legs from a few yards out. 1-0 Coventry after only a few minutes.
“Play to the whistle” was to be the order of the day. Tails up, Harborough went about righting the wrong.“Come on guys, we are better than this” was the rallying cry. Harborough then seemed to click and started to play some good passing hockey building from the defence and using the width of the pitch, the youngsters in midfield providing service for the forward line.
A few well worked moves saw Steve Pateman slotting home from open play before Noel Burton added one from a short corner with Steve adding a third. Harborough were back in control. Coventry had a few attacks that were neatly dealt with by the Harborough back line and a save off the pads kept it at 1-3 at the break.
More of the same was the half time team talk. Coventry changed their shape in the second half putting more experience into their forward line and pressed hard for a comeback. Despite a couple of interesting decisions and some fortuitous short corners being awarded Harborough held firm. If Coventry could have scored another it would have changed the game and Harborough were very much aware of this.
The men in the white pushed on but some resolute defending from Coventry prevented any addition to the score. When Coventry were able to break they were thwarted by some fine defending and a couple of decent saves (if I do say so myself).
With a few minutes on the clock, Noel turned back the years, rounded at least three defenders struck the ball sweetly and whilst some of the crowd thought it was all over, the metallic ringing of the post denied what would have been a goal of the season contender.
Harborough held firm and were worthy winners of a good and close game. Well played gentlemen, anyone on the pitch could have been a worthy Man of the Match winner The visiting fans went away happy.
Women’s 1 drew 1-1 at home to Warwick 2
Goal: Hattie Hammond
Badgers played in a friendly match away to Leicester
Sunday:
WIN – Men’s 2 won 5-1 at home to Atherstone Adders 3
Goals: Ben Sleeman (2), Jordan Allen, Nick Hall & Elliot Roper
Our U12s and U14s were playing away in a Junior Tournament hosted by Kettering HC.
Both teams had a great morning in the winter sunshine with the U12s winning one match and drawing three, and the U14s winning 3 matches and losing one.
Well played all!
