Croxall’s cracker ensures Penarth secure success
IT was a weekend of mixed GoCrea8 League results for Penarth Hockey Club, but wins for the 1st and 4th XIs ensured a continued presence at the top of their respective divisions.
The 1sts preserved their remarkable record at Stanwell with a 2-0 victory over early-season table-toppers Ashmoor.
The match started at a frenetic pace, but the Devonshire visitors showed no signs of fatigue from their long journey and proved adept in snuffling out Penarth’s attacks, with several of Chris Baker’s trademark runs being halted before they could produce results.
It took until halfway through the first period for the deadlock to be broken, and required a little bit of magic from Ben Croxall put Penath a goal up. After a series of free hits in the attacking half, Croxall drove into the ‘D’ on a short mazy dribble, before turning onto his favourite reverse stick side and unleashing a thunderbolt into the top right-hand corner.
Penarth doubled their advantage early in the second half as a classic dummy and spin from Laith El-Khatib wrong-footed the visiting defender, who was tasked with marking him, before a fierce strike from just inside the circle gave the Ashmoor goalkeeper no chance.
The 2nd XI, coming off a frustrating loss at home to Whitchurch the previous Saturday, were beaten 3-1 at Cardiff University B.
Penarth started the better, able to pin the University side back in the opening exchanges as Chris McCarthy and young Dan Monroe-Morris posed questions to the home defence. The pressure eventually told and, having seen a couple of penalty corner chances wasted, a well-worked counter-attacking move broke the students’ resistance as Usman Dhami intercepted the ball in midfield before feeding McCarthy, who drew the remaining defender to allow Richard Baker to sweep home.
The breakthrough should have spurred Penarth to greater efforts but, instead, it was the University who came out stronger from the restart, switching the pressure to the visitors’ end by pushing an extra man into attack.
Unfortunately for the Bears, the defences were breached, although the equaliser came from a set-piece rather than open play. As the half wore on, Penarth looked good for at least a draw as some heroic defensive work kept the scores even until the final 10 minutes when the students scored twice.
The 3rds were beaten 7-0 by an impressive Swansea University C side.
The 4th XI fought back from a good down to beat Whitchurch F 3-1 with Lewis Ingram, Zayn Zaman and Dave Thomas on target.
All four Penarth sides will be in GoCrea8 action this weekend, with the 1st XI hoping to carry on their good form against a tricky Swansea University sidey.
The 2nd XI, meanwhile, will hope to bounce back from consecutive losses but will have to overcome a typically tough Cardiff & Met side at Stanwell (1.45pm start) if they are to register their first points since the opening weekend.
The 3rd XI open proceedings at Stanwell (noon start), taking on their neighbours from Whitchurch, while the 4th XI face the toughest test of their season to date with a visit to division leaders Neath at Baglan.