LEAGUE HOCKEY
PLASHET HOCKEY CLUB

Plashet Vs Saffron Walden 2

9 - 0 

This week saw Plashet play host to Saffron Walden 2’s. This game produced some influential performances from many of Plashet’s key players. From the start of this game Plashet stamped their authority as league leaders, as Saffron Walden were treated to a rude awakening. With only 2 minutes into the game, Inderjeet Singh produced some intricate stick work as he managed to round four of the Saffron Walden defenders and get into the ‘D’ to unleash an unstoppable strike, thundering past the keepers left hand glove. From the resulting restart of the game, Plashet were soon back in possession of the ball as they were beginning to stroke it around and use every area of the pitch to outline their clear dominance of the game from early on. With the defenders and mid field players linking up well, Plashet’s attacking ability was overwhelming for the visiting team as they mounted attacks from all areas of the field. With slick movement and passing from Plashet, Saffron Walden were pinned in their half, as Plashet went in search to increase their lead.

Just under 10 minutes gone in the game, Plashet’s dominance was rewarded with another goal, once again Inderjeet Singh showed his class when he made room for himself in the area to put away another strike past the motionless keeper. He only had to wait a further 2 minutes until he secured his hat-trick, again producing some neat stick work for him to run into the area and slide the ball past the advancing keeper. This goal surge by Inderjeet Singh encouraged others to get in on the action. As a result of the first short corner of the game, Sanjeev Sharma was given acres of room from the push out, to sweep the ball from the top of the ‘D’ which went under the keepers pads and roll into the empty goal. This was definitely Inderjeet Singh’s day, as he maintained his hunger to score more goals, this time he was involved in some clever build up play with the right half, Sandeep Singh, between them, they managed to string 6 or 7 passes together, out-doing the Saffron Walden defence, when Inderjeet Singh found himself in the area once more and managed to strike the ball through the keepers legs for his fourth goal of the game. Saffron Walden did manage to occasionally break into the Plashet half, but the back line were equal to stamp out any threat on the Plashet goal. 

5 nil up at half time and the team talk echoed for more of the same in the second half. The half again began at blistering pace, Plashet’s precision and movement has definitely peaked over the last few games and it was evident it was down to this that Plashet were able to open up Saffron Walden with ease time and time again. They dictated each passage of play and frequently attacked down both channels. There was only another 5 minutes gone until Plashet increased their lead to 6, Daljeet Singh found himself in the ‘D’ and managed to get his shot in from a very acute angle, the Saffron Walden keeper was only able to parry the ball to the awaiting Ajaypal Singh who managed to flick the ball into the empty net to get himself on the score sheet. This was a dismal day for the visiting team as their defence was torn open in every Plashet attack. Saffron Walden did manage to test the Plashet keeper on a couple of occasions, although he didn’t have much to do throughout the game, he pulled off a an excellent save allowing him to keep another clean sheet for the second week running.

With much of the game still remaining, Plashet emphasized on holding the ball and exploiting the gaps, Sanjeev Sharma doubled his scoring tally with an excellent run deep from his own half and to strike ball passed the unfortunate Saffron Walden keeper. However, man of the match, Inderjeet Singh topped a sterling Plashet performance with 2 more goals and secured his double hat-trick. So Plashet cruised to win with a 9-0 victory, and the game was probably already won in the first 20 minutes of the game. A somewhat sterner test awaits Plashet next week, as they are involved in a top of the table clash away to Wapping. Watch this space to see how the warriors in orange fare next week.