LEAGUE HOCKEY
PLASHET HOCKEY CLUB

Plashet 1 Vs East London 1

17th January 2009



5 - 3

As the season commenced, Plashet welcomed their new international signing; Hardeep Singh to the team and were eager to get going.

Plashet found themselves up against a much improved and stronger East London side in their first game after the xmas break, who have mounted a reasonably decent promotion push themselves this season. However, Plashet were first to open the scoring after 5 minutes gone, Himmat Singh slotted the ball under the advancing keeper after some intricate build up play between Hardeep Singh and Inderjeet Singh down the right channel. As a wake up call, EL began to play some neat hockey, linking their midfield and forwards well to pose some problems for the Plashet defenders, it was from one of these attacks that allowed EL to equalise after 15 minutes gone. Plashet failed to clear their lines; allowing the unmarked EL forward to flick the ball into the empty goal. The game had settled into a pattern as both teams were carving out opportunities, Plashet could have taken the lead soon after, but were unable to convert as frequently as they should have done. With 10 minutes to go of the first half, Inderjeet restored Plashet's lead when he dribbled into the EL 'D' and dinked the ball over the keeper who had already gone down after anticipating the low shot. With moments left of the first half, EL once again levelled the scores after they were awarded a short corner, a very simple routine allowed their striker a free shot from the penalty spot to score easily.

With a new found impetus, the men in orange came out of the blocks very swiftly in the second half as they began to mount more pressure on the EL defenders. On numerous occasions; Sant, Inderjeet and Hardeep linked up superbly down the right flank causing allsorts of problems for the EL wingers, and created many chances to score, but were unable to, due to some resolute defending by EL coupled with some poor finishing by the Plashet forwards. Plashet were also awarded a host of short corners in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but were unable to capitalise on any of these until Sanjeev stepped up and blasted the ball into the bottom right corner, leaving the EL shot stopper no chance to reach the ball. After taking the lead for the third time, Plashet began to steady and control the game in key areas of the field and continued to create many scoring opportunities. With 15 minutes of the game remaining; Plashet were awarded a penalty flick; Sanjeev managed to weave his way into the EL 'D', as he beat the keeper, his shot was illegally stopped on the line by the EL defender, the umpire blew immediately and pointed to the spot. Sanjeev slotted the ball past the keeper, leaving him fixed on his line, to make the score 4-2 to the men in orange. With the game coming to an end, it was fitting for the newest Plashet member to open his goal scoring account, Hardeep rounded 2 EL defenders to enter the 'D', after beating the last defender, he managed to get his shot away on target, although he was off balance into the bottom left corner, again leaving the keeper flat footed and unable to react. In the final minutes, EL mounted some pressure and were awarded a consolation goal to end the game at 5-3 to the men in orange.

An enjoyable game to recommence the league fixtures, but Plashet has it all to do to stay in the promotion hunt. Next week sees Plashet travel to Chelmsford...