Hockey - Difficult double header

11:16am Saturday 23rd February 2008

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KENDAL had a tough double-header weekend, playing the two top teams in North West Division Five on consecutive days.

Kendal 2.....Sefton......5.

SATURDAY'S visitors were Liverpool Sefton, who put pressure on Kendal from the start with a well-organised full press.

Yet it was the home side who took the lead in the 18th minute when a breakaway led to a penalty corner and a nicely worked routine ended with Ollie Thorman slotting in at the far post.

Kendal joy was short-lived as Sefton struck back swiftly. In a goalmouth melee Andy Blockley made a courageous save but as he was on the ground the follow-up shot was stopped on the line by Martin Boyd's arm.

The resulting penalty flick was dispatched to bring the scores level.

It was a double blow for Kendal as Andy Blockley had taken a nasty knock and was in some pain for the rest of the game.

Sefton took control with three goals in the first ten minutes of the second half.

The first came in open play, followed by two from penalty corners, dispatched by the Sefton flick expert who gave Blockley no chance.

Kendal fought well in midfield with Phil Conlin particularly impressive and Gordon Blunt displaying his usual grit and determination.

Roger Dix, playing in his first league game, produced a solid performance in defence, while Iain Donaldson kept the Sefton skipper and centre forward Stephen Smith under close surveillance.

The Greens kept their game going and Ewan Galloway was twice one-on-one with the keeper, but saw his first attempt well saved and the second shave the outside of the post.

Twenty-five minutes into the second half he finally hit the net, finishing well from a penalty corner.

Three minutes later Sefton re-established their three-goal lead with a penalty corner.

It was a bitter pill to swallow after Donaldson had earlier made a superb save above his head to deflect a lifted shot over the bar.

Kendal 1...Northern....1.

SUNDAY'S game was a tense affair dominated by defences.

Northern are pushing for promotion and clearly anticipated taking all three points, while Kendal, still not far enough away from the relegation zone, badly needed points.

Northern won a number of penalty corners, but failed to convert. Jon Elleray, making a rare but welcome appearance for the Greens, was always quick off the line and snuffed out any first-time shots.

At the other end a Kendal penalty corner was more productive as Steve Barclay's crisp shot opened the scoring.

The visitors were unfortunate to miss out on an equaliser when the umpire missed an advantage and blew for an offence shortly before the ball ricocheted across the line.

Kendal were disappointed to see their lead disappear soon after when a fierce stick tackle on Northern skipper Tom Pfeiffer led to a successful penalty flick.

In the second half Elleray's speed kept Northern's penalty-corner specialists at bay and Josh Chacko made a superb diving save.

In a nail-biting finish Ewan Galloway set up a Kendal counter-attack. Liam Derome raced down the left wing and pulled the ball back from the byeline to Phil Conlin, who looked certain to score but was denied by a superb reaction save.

Windermere 3...Salford U....4.

WINDERMERE'S NW Division 6 promotion hopes took a knock on Saturday when Salford University came from behind to snatch victory, Salford's win took them to top spot ahead of Didsbury Northern 3rd and Preston 3rd while Windermere remain fourth, but with time running out on their fifth consecutive promotion bid.

Ironically, Windermere produced another fine performance but conceded at two short corners and a questionable third goal.

The game began at a tremendous pace as both sides probed for an opening, but Windermere's man-of-the-match Dan Prentice, together with Matt Hartnett, gradually gained control in midfield.

Scott Santamera and Ashley Chadwick linked well out wide to stretch the visitors and when a resulting short corner was thwarted on the line by stick and foot.

Steve Heyns made no mistake with a well-executed penalty stroke.

More Windermere pressure brought a second goal for Heyns as he shifted the ball to his left side and unleashed a brilliant reverse stick shot into the bottom corner of Salford's goal.

Windermere's quick-passing forced Salford to defend in numbers, but they looked dangerous on the break and Andrew Darling twice made good saves before they scored from a short corner.

The home defenders were deceived with a slipped ball routine and Salford's striker picked his spot before a challenge could be made.

Windermere again took the initiative after the interval. A rapid exchange of passes between Mike Hodgson and Chris Goodchild put Goodchild through and he hammered his shot past the stranded Salford keeper.

The visitors came back into the game.

Winning another short corner they again slipped ball the ball sideways for it to be driven into goal via Darling's pads.

Salford then equalised through a hard ball into the D which took two deflections before thudding into goal off what appeared to be a Salford foot.

The officials conferred but gave the goal.

Windermere's disappointment then turned to despair when a clever touch to another driven ball gave Salford the winner.