Davis Wood Hockey League

De Cymru & Marches Division One

Wotton-under-Edge 2 Lansdown 0

A COLD start to the day and a layer of snow on the pitch meant some hard work for dedicated members as the New Road pitch swarmed with hockey enthusiasts equipped with shovels and brooms to shift the white and see the green.

By push back, the pitch was spotless, so the first league game of 2015 went ahead against strong opposition.

Two friendlies over the past weeks and hard training sessions meant Wotton were quick on their feet giving them confidence right from the start.

The home side kept Lansdown’s key players out of the game and with tight marking from Michael Buist and wide players Neil Curtis and Andy Edwards coming in narrow to pack the middle channels.

Wotton worked the ball into the away team’s D numerous times, collecting short corners, but although coming close, no goals came from it.

The game came down to patience as 75 per cent of the play hovered around the centre of the pitch in the first half, leaving the match goal-less at half-time.

With the plan set, Wotton came out strong and wanted a valuable three-point win. Majestic skills from Rob Davies and Dave Newns in the midfield provided the dynamics Wotton needed to move forwards.

A run down the right side by Harry Willcox gave him the chance to enter the D and win a short corner, where this time a different approach worked well and a goal by Ryan Howarth put the Blues in front.

Wotton were pumped and intensity increased. With the build ups now coming from James Cruickshank and Alistair Hammond down the right and left channels, Wotton found themselves well in control. A neat ball from Davies to Howarth and a danger run into Lansdown’s D saw the beginnings of goal two.

Howarth’s attempt on goal came off the goalkeeper and back out to Darren Pearce, where he had time to smash the ball into the corner leaving no way back.

Blues knew all they had to do was hold Lansdown in their half and with that the final whistle blew and the three points were all sown up.