Carillon 1st XI register another high score win

CARILLON 1ST XI 14 WEST BRIDGFORD 6TH XI 0 CARILLON continued their hot run of form with another goal-laden performance, beating West Bridgford 6ths 14-0 on Saturday.

With Joel Sibson and Ben Grundy both out of the side due to injury, Carillon were glad to welcome back Tino Uka and Steve Hunter to the side while also giving a debut to new signing Robbie Macdonald.

The first goal arrived after 30 seconds with Ollie Jepchott sliding the ball home to after good work on the righthand side of the pitch by Tom Ward and Alex Carter. The flood gates were well and truly opened and Carillon scored a further four times to bring the score to 5-0 after just 15 minutes.

To their credit, Bridgford defended solidly and combined with good keeping got to half time only a further three goals down. Pleasingly, youngster Kellan Patel grabbed his first goal for the team in only his third game with a well taken effort that slammed into the backboard.

The second half, with the game over as a contest, took on the form of a training exercise with Carillon attacking at will. Bridgford continued to defend doggedly frustrating the multiple efforts on goal. However, tiredness did eventually catch up with them which Carillon were able to exploit, scoring a further six times in the last quarter of the game. The pick of the goals was an audacious lob from the edge of the attaching circle by Hunter.

As well as Hunter and Patel, Steve Livingstone got on the score sheet,

Matt Middleton got another brace and Jepchott completed his second four goal haul in as many games, collecting another well-deserved man of the match award. Outdoing Jepchott and slightly unfortunate not to pip him to the award was Tom Wood who finished the game with five goals.

After this latest win, Carillon have now scored an eye-watering 229 goals in just 23 games as a men’s side. The side turn their attention to West Bridgford 5th team who are the visitors on Saturday.

MRHA – T3 SOUTH EAST PREMIER MELTON MEN’S 2ND XI 4 LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN

MEN’S 3RD XI 5 LOOKING to get back on track after last week’s disappointing loss, the Men’s 3rd XI travelled to Melton Mowbray to take on Melton 2nd XI.

The game started well for Town as within the first five minutes they went 1-0 up from an unconventional penalty corner routine. Henry Smith miss-dragged the ball out, which Kyran Patel alertly got the ball outside of the D back to Smith who drilled the ball across the face of the goal. A dive from forward Matt Horsfall to connect his stick to ball was in vain but Phil Cook was there to tap the ball into the goal.

What was a great start turned bad as Town lost structure and gave away too many penalty corners, which resulted in the home side taking a deserved 3-1 lead.

Town were lucky not to go another goal down, as a break away saw a Melton forward round the keeper, though his shot came off the post. Agonisingly rolling across the goal line the ball was cleared by the Town defence.

Just as half-time neared Town started to play some decent hockey, winning a free hit on the edge of the Melton D. After moving the ball, the required five meters Peter Hayes fired the ball into the D, where Horsfall finding himself in space directed it into the goal. His first of the season and a much-needed goal to take Town into the half at 3-2 down.

A truthful halftime team talk was delivered by Captain Rory Cook, knowing that Town needed the next goal to keep in the game.

Whilst Town started the second half playing better hockey, they again were in penalty corner trouble. This time Melton didn’t try the direct shot but moved it right and flicked the ball at goal. A miscommunication between keeper and defender resulted in them both going for the ball, which resulted in it dropping into the goal. The home side extended their lead again to 4-2.

After a couple of green cards, one for each side, Town started to push higher up the pitch, creating plenty of chances but couldn’t be converted. Eventually the goal came when Cook scored his second.

The equalising fourth goal was from a penalty corner. The drag out by Hayes found Freddie Pass at the top of the D who’s miss hit of the ball bobbled towards goal. Luckily for Pass the keeper missed the ball and it rolled into the goal. 4-4, the game was anyone’s now, though the away team had the momentum.

With five minutes left Town could see the three points in their grasp and pressed hard. Pass keeping height in Melton’s D, was found after some good team passing.

Taking his time, he placed the ball in the open goal putting Town in the lead for only the second time in the game. The away side then saw out the final minutes clinching a 5-4 win.