Sports College win state boys hockey title in style
LUCKNOW : Coming from behind, Guru Govind Singh Sports College scored a thrilling 4-3 win against Lucknow to wrest the state junior hockey title, at the Padamshree Mohd Shahid stadium here on Sunday.
Sports College despite trailing by 1-2 at the half time, didn’t lose heart and went on outplaying Lucknow in style. After some initial exchanges of long passes, Lucknow forged into lead through Arun Sahai, who shot a field goal 1-0 in the 13th minute (1-0).
But the lead didn’t long last and within two minutes time, Sports College managed to restore parity through Amit Yadav, who converted a penalty corner into goal in the 15th minute (1-all).
The dingdong battle continued even then and in the 23rd minute Manish Sahani once again put Lucknow into lead, striking on a penalty corner (2-1). Thereafter, Sports College had to wait long to level the score once again.
Ajay Yadav struck team’s first field goal in the 42nd minute after dodging a bunch of defenders to take the score to 2-all. The equalizer, however, boosted the confidence of Sports College boys to press hard.
Their continuous efforts then paid rich dividends in the 56th minute, when Amit Yadav converted yet another penalty corner to put the team ahead 3-2 for the first time, before Shakib Mewari extending the lead to 4-2 with a field goal in the 64th minute.
Lucknow boys even then didn’t lose heart and kept trying hard. They had match’s only penalty stroke in the 68th minute
THE DINGDONG BATTLE CONTINUED EVEN THEN AND IN THE 23RD MINUTE MANISH SAHANI ONCE AGAIN PUT LUCKNOW INTO LEAD, STRIKING ON A PENALTY CORNER (21). THEREAFTER, SPORTS COLLEGE HAD TO WAIT LONG TO LEVEL THE SCORE ONCE AGAIN
and Shardanand Tewari made no mistake in pushing the ball home (3-4). In the remaining two minutes time, Sports College lads kept their nerves under control and didn’t allow any further chance to Lucknow to level the score again.