LEAGUE HOCKEY
PLASHET HOCKEY CLUB

Plashet 1 Vs Thurrock 1

29th November 2008



5 - 3

After last weeks surprising result, it was vital Plashet got back to winning ways to get themselves back into the promotion hunt. In an unexpected twist to their preparation, Plashet were forced to start the game with 9 men, including a kicking back.

As the game got underway, it was apparent the Thurrock team comprised of many youngsters, which can only be good for them to build on their experience for the future. Having said that; the men in orange made a good start to the game, holding the ball and passing it around their opposition with great composure. Plashet also created many chances to open the scoring as well as holding the opposition in their own half. 10 minutes into the game, Plashet were at full strength as well as now having a fully kitted goalkeeper. With the benefit of having all their players on field, Plashet applied more pressure on their hosts and opened the scoring soon after through Himmat Singh, he crafted his goal himself as he beat the last defender and then rounded the Thurrock keeper to slot the ball into the empty goal. The first half, was all Plashet, they continued to create chances and dictate key areas of the field, with 25 minutes gone of the first half, they increased their lead. A well worked goal resulted from some neat build up play from Sanjeev and Inderjeet Singh, the slick passing between them carved open the Thurrock defence which then found Sant Singh unmarked at the top of the D, his powerful strike rifled past the outstretched keeper into the bottom right corner. Into the last moments before the interval, the men in orange added their third goal of the game, a brilliant piece of skill from Inderjeet Singh saw him receive the ball in the D in a tight area; he managed to twist himself through 2 defenders and shoot from an acute angle, his shot went in from the underside of the cross bar leaving the Thurrock shot stopper very little chance to react.

Plashet restarted the game brightly, exploiting the gaps in the Thurrock defence and midfield. Chances were created frequently, with 10 minutes into the second half, Plashet increased their lead to 4, this time there was some neat build up play down the right channel, where Himmat Singh and Sant managed to combine well, the ball was then slipped into the path of Inderjeet who took the ball in his stride and with his momentum took the ball past the last 2 Thurrock defenders, as he entered the D, he released a venomous strike, the ball fizzed past the keepers right pad and bulged into the side netting. Moments after, Plashet went 5 nil up, again Himmat was on hand to squeeze his shot between the keeper and post after the initial short corner strike was parried by the Thurrock keeper. As the game continued into its final stages, complacency crept into Plashet's game which allowed Thurrock to gain some possession of their own and create chances. As a result, a lapse in concentration from the Plashet central defenders saw a Thurrock free hit into the D find its way through both defenders for the unmarked Thurrock striker to deflect the ball over the advancing Plashet keeper. Soon after, the same Thurrock striker was on hand again to strike the ball past the Plashet keeper as Plashet were found guilty of leaving the striker unmarked on the penalty spot. In the dying moments of the game, the Thurrock striker secured his hat trick as Plashet failed to clear an earlier short corner.

On the whole a good result for Plashet, however questions will be asked of the goals they conceded, which has to be said were very weak from a Plashet perspective. Next week brings around the final game before the christmas break against Harlow .