Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Canterbury hockey men inflict first defeat on league leaders
Skipper Craig Boyne warned against complacency despite Canterbury boosting their National Premier Division survival hopes with a superb display to inflict a first defeat on leaders Wimbledon on Sunday.
Results elsewhere ensured Wimbledon secured top spot, despite the defeat at Polo Farm, while the victory took Canterbury up to eighth, above Brooklands MU on goal difference, with two games to play.
While the prospects of avoiding finishing ninth and facing the relegation play-offs for a third straight season look good, Brooklands face whipping boys Loughborough Students, already down, on Saturday while Canterbury travel to East Grinstead (6pm), who feature GB big-guns Ashley Jackson and Nick Caitlin.
Boyne said: “There is no room for complacency. The job is not done. I always prepare for the worst and you have to expect Brooklands to pick up three points and close the (six goal) gap in terms of goal difference.
“We are at home to Brooklands on the final day so we need a good result at EGS – if we blow up, we’re in trouble.”
He added: “We can look back at a few games earlier in the season which we should have seen out and which would have had us safe already but that doesn’t help us now.
“We lost eight or nine players last season so to be in with a chance of our highest finish for the past few years is credit to the players, particularly the young ones who have developed with the experience of the season.
“We need another performance like we put in last week and still have the memory of (the 4-3 home defeat to EGS in September) when we were robbed in a three or four minute spell.”
Against Wimbledon, in-form Tom Bean broke the deadlock from a penalty corner strike on 13 minutes and although Ian Sloan converted from a set-piece for the visitors to level seven minutes later, Michael Farrer restored the city club’s lead on the stroke of half-time when he turned in a rebound.
Bean added the crucial third with another drag flick just before the hour but despite some good work from keeper Diccon Stubbings, Chris Gregg pulled one back on the break for Wimbledon six minutes later.
Sam Barrett gave Canterbury a two-goal lead with just five minutes left, netting his first National League goal with a deflection from a fierce reverse stick strike from Craig Boyne and there was still time for James Oates to smash a fifth late-on.
Boyne added: “We didn’t expect to win but I wouldn’t say it was a complete surprise. We know we are decent, we have taken points off all the top-four sides this season.”
Canterbury 2nds went down 4-1 at leaders Hampstead & Westminster as their hopes of defending their London Premier Division title suffered a mortal blow.
The hosts were 3-0 ahead before the break and added a fourth before Harry Roberts pulled one back after good work from Tom Roblin and Sam Barrett.
The Pilgrims drew 2-2 at home to leaders Brighton & Hove in South League Kent/sussex Regional 2.
Ed Marsh flicked the hosts ahead early on but two quick goals saw the hosts trailing at the break.
After the break, Zak Williams was left unmarked to turn in the equaliser.
The 3rds came from 2-1 down to win 5-2 at Ashford 2nds in South League Kent Area Division 1 while the 4ths edged a nine-goal thriller at home to Holcombe in South League Kent Area Division 1.
The 5ths lost 6-1 at promotionchasing Herne Bay 2nds in Kent Open Premier B while the Griffins had to settle for a draw at Maidstone 3rds after three straight wins in Premier C.
After a goalless first 64 minutes, the hosts went ahead with a bobbled strike but there was still time for Matt Swaffer to grab a deserved equaliser in the dying seconds.
The Squires enjoyed a 1-0 win over Maidstone 4ths in Kent Open Division 1 while the Friars saw off Division 3 strugglers Gillingham Anchorians 4ths 5-3 despite twice falling behind.
Alex Laslett ( 2), Geordie Hayward, Tim Smith and Neil Birch were the scorers.