East League Hockey

Premier B Division

COLCHESTER’S second game of 2012 ended in disappointment as Harleston came from a goal behind to nick the points at the Garrison ground. It was the away side that started on the front foot as the pressed high and put the Colchester defence under pressure.

Colchester’s defence stood up to the task and soon began to play some nice hockey. A ball in from deep from Richard Sexton narrowly evaded everyone and went off the back. Colchester took the lead midway through the half when they were awarded a penalty corner. A slick move saw the ball played back to the injector, Rohan Khaira, who slapped the ball first time into the goal.

The game continued to see-saw with both sides creating chances, which they could not put away. Within a minute of the restart, Colchester really should have doubled their advantage when Rob Mann rounded the keeper, but his shot could only find the post. This signalled the start of the home side’s best moments of the game, as they really should have finished off their opponents. A superb aerial ball from Mark Prince found a running Rob Mann, but he could only skew his first timed volley effort wide.

Colchester’s failure to kill off the game lead to allowing the visitors back into the game. A ball in from the right found a Harleston forward unmarked in the ‘D’, whose first time effort beat Jack Gardner in the Colchester goal.

Colchester though were not being deterred from their task and had a chance to regain the lead in the dying minutes. Rob Mann picked up the ball in a glorious position inside the Harleston ‘D’, but could only fire his shot over the bar. With Colchester pressing on, a misplaced pass in midfield lead to Colchester’s downfall. The visitors broke quickly, forcing Joe Rich into making a stick tackle, which earned him a Yellow Card and Harleston a Penalty Corner.

Colchester couldn’t deal with the shifted ball from the corner and Harleston had nicked the game right at the end.

Colchester will be happy with the way they battled throughout the match, but will be disappointed with the timing of the defeat; Ellisons Solicitors Man of the Match was Richard Sexton, for his defending down the Colchester right. Colchester will have their work cut out next week, as they travel to top of the table Ramgarhia.

Colchester Round-Up

It was a disappointing start to 2012 for the second eleven, who went down 2-0 away against Clacton. The third and fourth elevens both made a winning start to the resumption of the league campaign.

The third eleven registering a 5-0 win away at Phoenix 2nd XI on division 5SE, while the fourth eleven maintained their place at the top of division 8SE with a 3-1 win at home against Thurrock 3rd XI.