LEAGUE HOCKEY
PLASHET HOCKEY CLUB

Plashet 1 Vs Wapping 3



4 - 0

So into the second week of the league, Plashet were facing yet another side that gained promotion from the previous campaign. Coming into this game on the back of a convincing win over University of Essex, Plashet were eager to get going to retain their position at the top of the league.

Playing away from home for the second week running, confidence was running high amongst the squad against an arguably stronger opposition from the previous week. There was no repeat performance from last week when Plashet scored with just 10 seconds on the clock. This week saw a more organised and technically astute Wapping side which was evident from the initial push back, the men in orange new they would have a sterner test to get a result from this game. From the start, Plashet managed to find a good rhythm, managing to pass and move the ball around the Wapping players quite comfortably. In the first 20 minutes of the first half the game was played at a high tempo by both sides, with most of the clearer chances going to Plashet. Further chances came and went for Plashet, after exceptional build up play, the final shot or pass proved to be weak and was unable to penetrate the Wapping goal. The first goal did come however for the men in orange as some slick build up play between Inderjeet Singh, Sanjeev Sharma and Himmat Singh bought about a penalty flick for Plashet, as a clear cut goal ward bound run from Himmat was denied by the last Wapping defender, in which he 'took out' the Plashet attacker, the umpire had no option but to award a penalty flick to Plashet. The one of many penalty flick specialists for Plashet stepped up, Sanjeev positioned the ball on the spot and steadied himself for the flick, the whistle blew and the ball had flown into to top right hand corner - an unstoppable flick to send the men in orange 1 nil up at half time.

All huddled around at half time, the boys still looked hungry for more goals and were keen to take the game away from Wapping sooner rather than later. As the second half commenced, Plashet started where they left off in the first half, retaining possession, creating chances and hounding the Wapping players on the ball to break up their play. Around 10 minutes into this half, Plashet stepped up a gear, this saw exceptional performances from their mid fielders and wing players making goal scoring chances and producing hard to defend against crosses. Namely, Verinder Channa produced a sterling performance playing on the left hand channel; time and time again his stick work and movement created all sorts of problems for the Wapping defenders and created chances for his team mates. Not long after this onslaught from Plashet, Indy managed to get on the scoring sheet, finishing off a fine team goal, finding himself in the D with only one defender and the keeper to beat, his effort found itself hitting the backboard with venom. 2 nil up with still 20 minutes to go, and more goals were inevitable. The newly drafted Scott Squibb playing the role as centre forward for the first team was the next on the score sheet for Plashet, his continued keenness and motivation to score, paid off when his shot from the top of the D beat the outstretched Wapping keeper at his near post. Still around 10 minutes to go, the best goal was saved till last, himmat got in on the action with a superb solo effort, rounding 3 defenders before finding himself one on one with the keeper, as the keeper went down, Himmat dinked the ball over his legs to slot the ball into the bottom left corner. Now 4 nil up, Plashet were playing out the rest of the game by holding the ball and passing it around. The Plashet defenders also deserve praise for there efforts as Sukhvinder, Parvin, Sandeep and Ajaypal all committed themselves fully to keeping a clean sheet for Plashet as they hounded, shadowed and dived to make crucial interceptions and left Amardeep, the Plashet keeper with relatively little to do throughout the whole game.

 2 games into the league, Plashet maintain a hundred percent record; however there is much to do for the men orange to retain this position until the final standings in April.

SG