Town denied win by late equaliser
MRHA – T3 NORTH EAST
PREMIER LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN MEN’S 4TH XI 2 BEESTON 5TH XI 2 DURING the opening 15 minutes of this game it did look like Town might have to deal with a repeat of last week’s heavy loss.
Town were struggling with applying the 4-1-2-1-2 formation designed to stifle Beeston’s creativity in the middle and it was no real surprise when the visitors scrambled the ball over the line to take the lead.
It was probably more surprising that Town were just 1-0 down, again guilty of gifting the ball to the opposition in bad areas. Town weren’t out of the game though and unlike last week their determination was beginning to turn the tide. When they passed well, they carved Beeston wide open and it was one such sweeping move which found veteran striker Andy Hargreaves on the right & inside the 23.
Beating one defender he unleashed a powerful shot which the Beeston keeper could only partially parry back to the advancing Hargreaves who was able to bundle the ball across the line.
Town began the second half more composed and confident; they knew that they were now competing. Chances to take the lead came and went, somehow, they just couldn’t score. The home side needed something special and it came in the form of Luca Hargreaves who, after a strong driving run into the D, unleashed a signature reverse stick strike. His connection was so sweet that the Beeston keeper only saw the ball after the rebound off the roof of the net hit him on the back of his legs.
Town now ahead squandered chances to kill the game off and Beeston weren’t out of it. A penalty corner later and the scores were back level, frustrating for Town who had led for much of the second half and had chances to take the win, but probably a fair reflection of the game ended 2-2.
Overall a much stronger performance but with improvements still to make.
MRHA T1 - MIDLANDS PREMIER UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
MEN’S 2ND XI 3 LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN
MEN’S 1ST XI 3 LOUGHBOROUGH Men’s 1st XI travelled the short distance up to Nottingham Hockey Centre to play a talented University of Nottingham 2nd XI side.
The game started well for Town with Ethan Hoodle making his one and only contribution to the game winning a short corner which was bundled in by Mike White.
Unfortunately, Hoodle was side-lined the rest of the game due to injury.
After taking the lead 1-0 lead Town were put under pressure but a defensive line of Nick Morris, Ian Johnston, Jack Thomas and Lawrie Bayne defended well. However, a poor turnover in midfield saw the away side concede to make the scores 1-1 at the break.
Town got off to the worst possible start to the second half conceding from a penalty corner within the first five minutes of the restart to go 2-1 down.
This however sparked a remarkable 20 minutes of hockey which saw great attacking play from Jake Vincent, James Lewis and Adam Carter providing chances for the forward line. This attacking hockey resulted in goals from White, with his second, and a penalty stroke from Johnston.
Town had opportunities to put the game to bed with a close chance from Sam Curd just missing the goal.
The game however soon turned and saw Town defending for the last ten minutes of the game.
Two tactical fouls resulting in two green cards which put Town down to nine players. Unfortunately, Nottingham found an equaliser with four minutes to go, but Town managed to hold strong and see out a 3-3 draw which in the end was probably a fair result.
HOCKEY RESULTS: Loughborough Students Ladies’ 5th XI 1-2 Loughborough Town Ladies’ 1st XI, Loughborough Town Ladies’ 3rd XI 1-7 Leicester City Ladies’ 3rd XI, University of Nottingham Men’s 2nd XI 3-3 Loughborough Town Men’s 1st XI, Loughborough Town Men’s 2nd XI 1-2 Stone Men’s 1st XI, Melton Men’s 2nd XI 4-5 Loughborough Town Men’s 3rd XI, Loughborough Town Men’s 4th XI 2-2 Beeston Men’s 5th XI, Rugby & East Warwickshire Men’s 7th XI 2-2 Loughborough Town Men’s 5th XI 2, Carillon Ladies 1st XI 3-2 Charnwood Sileby 1st XI, Carillon 1st XI 14-0 West Bridgford 6th XI, Khalsa Leamington 6th XI 1-1 Loughborough Carillon 2nd XI, Carillon 3rd XI 4-1 Ashby 5th XI, Loughborough Carillon A 0-4 Rutland Horseshoes, Loughborough Carillon Merlins 0-3 Market Harborough Mixed.