HOCKEY: Wotton hit poor Devizes for six in KO Trophy

England Hockey Men’s Trophy knockout competition

Wotton-under-Edge 6 Devizes 0

ON a beautiful Sunday, Wotton-Under-Edge lined up against a Devizes side one division below them in the national GOCREA8 competition.

Devizes were one of a small number of sides that caused Wotton problems last season, so the pre-game team talk focused on avoiding complacency while still enjoying the game.

Despite having a few new faces on the side for this game, the overall performance was strong against a noticeably weaker Devizes side.

Three goals from Harry Willcox, two from Matthew Fairburn, including a penalty flick awarded after a thumping collision with the Devizes goalie, and one from Michael Buist settled the score at 6-0.

A powerful strike from Willcox and a reverse stick finish from Fairburn were the stand-out goals of the day.

The back three of James Cruickshank, Henry Patteson, Hayden Brewer, protected well by the midfield of Neil Curtis, Dan Jones, Rob Davies and some good work from David Holt upfront, helped Wotton to keep a clean sheet on the day.

But goalkeeper George Lampkin was outstanding. He put in a sterling performance between the sticks.

So it is upward and onwards to the next round, which is a home draw against Maidenhead firsts on February 5.

Championship

Wotton-under-Edge 2 Ashmoor 1

A solid 2-1 win against a young and skilful Ashmoor took Wotton back to the top of the Championship after seven games.

With these two teams having never played each other before, this was something of an unknown.

Wotton seemed to warm up better and controlled the game from the outset.

Ashmoor were happy to let Wotton have the ball in their own half hoping to catch the home team on the break, but Wotton looked composed and did not give Ashmoor a sniff.

The Blues took the lead as Wotton pressed the away team into a mistake with talisman Matthew Fairburn moving into the D and burying his reserve stick strike.

Wotton continued to threaten with Ashmoor's only real chance of the game thwarted by rushing goalie George Lampkin, after the Ashmoor striker nearly found himself through on goal.

Wotton then doubled their lead halfway through the first half as a penalty corner was deflected by Harry Willcox into the Ashmoor goal.

The second half started like the first with Ashmoor trying to stretch the game whenever possible by sending three or four men high when they got the ball, but Wotton trusted that man-for-man.

Wotton couldn't find the third goal to seal the game with Howarth, Holt and Willcox all going close, and with two minutes to go Ashmoor halved the deficit with a well taken penalty corner but Wotton saw out time.