Five star performance by Carillon 1st XI as they maintain perfect start to season

HAMPTON IN ARDEN 0 LOUGHBOROUGH CARILLON MEN’S 1ST XI 5

LOUGHBOROUGH CARILLON MENS 1ST XI continued their early season form with a tough but deserved win away to Hampton-in-Arden 4th XI.

Carillon were aware that Hampton had started the season well, also winning both of their opening games comfortably and it was the hosts who arguably had the better opening.

Hampton’s young forward line caused initial problems with their pace and forced Johnny Hie in the Carillon goal to make several early saves.

As the first half continued, Carillon began to impose themselves on the game and took the lead through Ian Johnston, who flicked low into the goal from a penalty corner.

A second goal came just before half time through a fierce strike from Steve Livingstone, opening his account in Carillon colours.

The half time team talk focused on lifting the teams game across all positions, the players responded well to this request and played a much more cohesive game.

The defence all over the pitch was much improved, rendering Hie a spectator for large parts of the second half.

Livingstone scored two more well taken goals to notch his hat-trick and collect the man of the match for this week.

This was the fifth hat-trick for a Carillon player in only three league games.

Hayden Arrowsmith finished the scoring after a goalmouth scramble to bring the final score to 5-0 and maintain Carillon’s position at the top of the table.

A useful win for the team, in what will be a tough fixture for many teams this season.

An important next set of fixtures for Carillon this coming weekend will test the team further.

First up, Loughborough Town on Saturday for the first derby fixture and on Sunday, last years winners, Nottingham University visit for the first round of the England Hockey Cup.