Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Boyne helps bring down the leaders
PLAYER-COACH HITS QUICKFIRE TREBLE TO SET UP SHOCK VICTORY
Craig Boyne’s brilliant 12-minute treble spearheaded Canterbury’s remarkable 3-2 victory against Division 1 South leaders Oxted at Polo Farm on Sunday.
The hosts trailed 2-0 inside 22 minutes and the scoreline remained the same until player-coach Boyne converted the first of his three penalty corners almost half-anhour later.
The Australian – only recently back on corner duties after back issues – struck again in the 57th minute and then completed his treble to send the visitors to their first defeat of the season.
Oxted went into the match unbeaten in 12 and quickly showed why they are top opening the scoring through Nick Giles inside five minutes. Canterbury fought back and both Will Mead, bursting through, and Callum Brown-lea, with a diving deflection, had half chances.
Oxted kept pushing and drew some good saves from Cade Banditt who was beaten again by a well-worked goal, converted by Mark Galloway on 22 minutes. Canterbury came out fighting in the second half forcing some good saves from the Oxted keeper before their efforts were rewarded when Boyne converted a 50th minute corner.
Within seven minutes Boyne had struck again, this one going top bins, and with the crowd now expectant, a break down the right led to another PC which Boyne slotted home for his hat-trick. Canterbury then dug deep and defended well holding on to make it four wins on the spin.
■ Two goals in the opening seven minutes put the 3rds on the way to a 7-0 home win over Tunbridge Wells, who had proved tough opposition in the teams’ first meeting. Chris Podd – with the first of his two on the day – and Chris Ellis were the early scorers. Matt Lea and Max Messenger both added doubles, the latter’s both being superb individual efforts.
■ A late comeback by the 5ths was not quite enough to rescue a point as they were beaten 3-2 by Ashford 4ths. Canterbury trailed 3-0 until goals from Toby Rowney and Josh White caused Ashford some late nerves.
Elliot Spencer Tanner enjoyed a fine debut in goal, making several good stops.
■ Griffins suffered a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Gore Court 4ths who went into the game bottom of the table.
The visitors never really settled into any rhythm and fell behind before Will Stevens hit a good back hand shot from the top of the D to level things up at half-time. Court then struck three times to make the game safe with Griffins’ sole reply coming courtesy of Guy Dowling who bundled the ball over the line after a melee from a short corner.
■ Millers were beaten 6-1 at home by Old Williamsonians but there was little between the sides in the first half.
OWS – who had won 17 of their previous 18 matches – had to be content with a singlegoal lead but they struck twice early in the second half before Olly Neal replied. Millers then went chasing the game and, as gaps appeared, OWS took advantage adding three further goals.
■ Ollie Curtis scored both goals as the Squires were held 2-2 by Blackheath and Elthamians 5ths who played one short. Despite having most of the possession the Squires struggled with the final ball or speed of thought to make the extra man count.
Blackheath went ahead from their first short corner but it was not long before Curtis got on the end of some untidy play and somehow scooped the ball into the net. That should have beeen the cue for Squires to take control but Blackheath struck from another short corner after the left hand post had been left unattended and it was left to Curtis to salvage a point when he showed lightning reactions and a keen eye to swot the ball back across goal, the oncoming keeper and into the goal.
■ Neil Birch defied the pain of a broken thumb to help Friars to an excellent 1-1 draw away to second in the table Old Bordenians 5ths.
Birch suffered the injury inside the opening 10 minutes but after applying ice returned to the fray after half-time.
His fortitude typified Friars’ approach on the day with a host of strong displays across the pitch, including keeper Paul Donovan, Nick Scott-kilvert and Geoff Philpott, in defence, and midfield trio Brian Hurlow, John Ratcliffe and man-of-the-match Jamie Morris.
Friars went ahead in the first half when 13-year-old debutant Riley Holness unselfishly teed up Nick Tan and they held the lead until deep into the second period when Bords equalised from a disputed penalty corner.
■ Canterbury Ladies had to settle for a 1-1 draw on their visit to Slough in Division 1 South.
The home side started the day two places above Canterbury in the table, but on a windy, blustery day the visitors produced some good spells of hockey in the first half. Canterbury looked to increase their defensive intensity and work rate in the second half and the contest was much more entertaining.
They went ahead on 49 minutes when Mel Clewlow converted a stroke after Chloe Plumb had been fouled by the home keeper but Slough were level within two minutes Briony Anyon coverting a short corner. Canterbury, seventh in the table, are at home to Wimbledon on Saturday, start 2pm.