LEAGUE HOCKEY
PLASHET HOCKEY CLUB

Plashet 1 Vs East London 1



4 - 2

After suffering a shock defeat the previous week, Plashet knew they would need to pick themselves up very quickly to regain the momentum they had previously achieved. This week saw the warriors in orange travel to East London, looking to making amends for last weeks defeat, the boys were focused on gaining the 3 points.

East London are another of those teams that have been in Div 3SE for sometime now, and have became accustomed to the standard of hockey played in this league. With this in mind, Plashet knew they would be in for a tough game.

As the game got underway, Plashet were able to find their rhythm right from the start, they demonstrated some very precise and attractive hockey against their opposition, their passing and movement was penetrative and they linked up play extremely well passing the ball around the opposition in triangles. With this high tempo and controlled game played by Plashet, it only took them 5 minutes to open their goal scoring account. Inderjeet Singh was the first to score for the men in orange as his thunderous strike from the top of D left the East London goal stopper motionless as the ball went high into the goal, creating a huge bulge in the net. The fluent and attractive hockey played by Plashet continued thereafter, and only 5 minutes later Plashet were 2 goals to the good. Inderjeet doubled his goal tally, with a well crafted goal, this time he managed to wriggle his way into the East London D and flicked the ball passed the on rushing EL goalkeeper.

As the game went on in the first half, Plashet continued playing some very nice hockey; however they squandered plenty of shooting chances and short corners, to take the game completely away from East London. Predictably, East London managed to attack the Plashet goal through a counter attack and through a weak reverse stick strike, EL managed to pull a goal back. 2- 1, with 20 minutes played, the score line now suggested the game was a lot closer that what it actually was. However, after the goal, the game still retained the same pattern, with Plashet dominating key areas of the pitch, many chances came and went for Plashet as the Plashet strikers were guilty of being too precise in their finishing, trying to achieve the glamorous goal, particularly when being in one on one situations with the goal keeper. The score line remained at 2-1 at the interval, but Plashet knew full well the game should have been dead and buried and out of sight.    

To the second half, Plashet introduced Amardeep Singh, their regular goalkeeper as an out field player on the left wing, I mention this as he was a valuable outfield player last season and chipped in to the overall goal scoring tally with 6 goals. The game was played no different to the first half as Plashet mounted attack after attack on the East London goal, but were either too wayward or trying to score the perfect goal to increase their lead. As well as creating a mass of chances, Plashet also had hatful of short corners, which again were simply not converted as they should have been. 20 minutes into the second half, after making very hard work of it, Plashet managed to score their third goal scored by none other than Amardeep Singh, he managed to deflect a low drag flick into the bottom corner passed the outstretched EL shot stopper. This goal was made even more special for Amardeep as his goal was dedicated to his late father; Tarlok Singh and to his cousin, Rupinder Singh who sadly passed away recently. A fitting dedication and a worthy goal scored by Plashets more than versatile goalkeeper.

Plashet remained to play high tempo hockey thereafter and were still creating ample chances, however making it easier for East London as the score still remained at 3 – 1. On the few occasions East London did attack, they managed to get into promising positions, but were essentially denied by the Plashet back line. With 10 minutes of the game remaining, East London were awarded a free hit just outside the Plashet D, a fierce hit into the D by the EL player found an outstretched attacking players stick, who managed to deflect the ball high into the Plashet goal, making the score 3 – 2 and an unnecessary nervy last 10 minutes for Plashet. As the game now became a little more stretched, Plashet still retained possession of the ball and created chances to finish the game, but it wasn’t until 5 minutes from time Plashet sealed the game, as Imraj Singh played a neat one, two with Himmat Singh and calmly finished, slotting the ball beyond the EL goal keeper. 4 – 2 at the final whistle, Plashet had made real hard work of this win, creating unnecessary pressure on themselves and walked away after the game with the score line much closer than what it should have been. Plashet will need to work on their finishing in matches to come as they know full well that the scoring should have well been into double figures for Plashet.

Next week sees Plashet entertain Clacton, the seasiders have had mixed results so far this season, but Plashet will be hoping for a more convincing win. Check back here to see how the warriors in orange fare...