Hockey - GSK Lakes enjoy sudden-death Vase glory (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Hockey - GSK Lakes enjoy sudden-death Vase glory

10:21am Saturday 21st February 2009 in

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THE ULVERSTON-based GSK Lakes men’s first team enjoyed a marvellous day of hockey on Sunday when beating Salisbury in the England Hockey Men’s Vase Knockout.

The match ended in a dramatic finish as GSK made club history by reaching the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time.Going into the fourth-round tie, GSK found themselves without several regular players and relied upon reserves - Paul Storey as goalkeeper, Neil Cooke - having his first senior game this season - Dan Reid and Ricky Mason.

Never have played each other before and not knowing what to expect, both teams took their time to settle.

It was GSK who opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Matt Cook unleashed a terrific strike just on the 'D' and deflected the ball at pace off a Salisbury defender into the back of the net.

As the end-to-end, fast-paced hockey continued, GSK were denied a number of times from penalty corners by the well- drilled Salisbury defence.

Salisbury, in contrast, were only awarded one penalty corner, just before half-time, which was cleared by stand-in keeper Storey, playing only his second game of the season.

The second half saw Salisbury come out with all guns blazing and within two minutes they had equalised.

Storey made several stunning saves in the GSK goal to prevent the visitors from going ahead, while GSK’s forwards broke well only to be denied by Salisbury’s very able and agile keeper.

As full time loomed, Matt Cook went on a penetrating solo foray into the 'D', but was unlucky as his shot zoomed inches wide of the post.

Soon afterwards his GSK team-mate George Atkinson wrong-footed the keeper and flicked the ball over him only to see his shot skim over the top of the crossbar.

With the score deadlocked at 1-1 the game went into extra time, but two tiring teams - try as they might to score - were halted by even more determined keepers.

Penalty strokes were eventually called upon to decide the issue and each team put five players forward.

Both keepers made one save apiece as the score reached 4-4, taking it to sudden-death. Up stepped Matt Cook for GSK and he calmly tucked the ball into the top of the net.

The pressure was now all on keeper Storey. As the Salisbury player tried to place the ball low, Storey read it well and saved the shot, winning the game sensationally and being mobbed by his ecstatic colleagues.

GSK now face a trip to Lincoln University-based Gainsborough Rose men’s team in next month’s quarter-finals.