Hockey East League

Division One

COLCHESTER took a step closer to promotion from Division One of the NE14Hockey East League with a victory at home to Felixstowe. Colchester were expecting their visitors to make life tough for them and they were not disappointed.

Colchester started the game well and won the first penalty corner of the match before their opponents had touched the ball, although nothing came from it.

It was the visitors though that opened the scoring, a superb drag-flick fired into the top corner from their first penalty corner of the match. Colchester didn’t have to wait long before restoring parity. Richard Sexton intercepted a loose pass deep in the Felixstowe pass and centred the ball for Joe Rich, who took a touch before slipping the ball into the bottom corner.

Colchester then took the lead when Richard Sexton himself finished off a neat move. In what was a hectic few minutes the visitors then got back on level terms once more when the ball broke free to a Felixstowe forward who took the ball on and slipped the ball past Jack Gardner in the Colchester goal.

Colchester had the ball in the net for a third time from another Penalty Corner, the ball was slipped back to Joe Rich who slapped the ball into the goal, though the umpire deemed the shot to be too high and disallowed the goal.

Colchester were then given the assistance of playing against ten men as the Felixstowe centre midfield player was sent to the sin-bin for a mistimed tackle. Colchester took full advantage as they took the lead once more. The ball was worked out to the right to Alfie Sexton who fired in a superb cross which was deflected by Brian Barker into the bottom corner, to give Colchester the lead going into the break.

The second half continued in a similar vein with the visitors making it tough for Colchester to play their natural game.

Colchester were then indebted to debutant and Mersea Homes Man of the Match Jack Gardner. The ball broke for a Felixstowe forward but Garner was out quickly and made superb stick stop to deny the forward a shot at goal.

Once again the visitors were reduced to ten men when a defender received a yellow card for bringing the ball down above shoulder height, and once again Colchester took full advantage to double their lead. Rohan Khaira took a free hit quickly and drove the ball forward, Khaira the pushed the ball forward to Richard Sexton, who centred the ball for John Wilson to fire home.

Both sides had chances to add to the scoring but just couldn’t find a way past either goalkeeper. Colchester will be looking to build on this result when they travel to play Upminster next week, looking to secure promotion back to the Premier B division.

Colchester Round-Up

Lloyd Dennis (2), Martin Sergeant, Ben Mynott and Edwin Cawthron scored the goals as the second eleven recorded a 5-1 win at home to Brentwood third eleven.

A win which guarantees promotion from division 4SE. The second eleven will now be looking to win their final two matches to secure the divisional title. The third eleven moved up to fourth in division 5SE with victory at home to third placed Phoenix second eleven, running out 3-1 winners. The fourth eleven went down 3-1 away at Crostyx third eleven in division 7SE.