Crostyx 7 Colchester 0

NE14Hockey East Men's League

Premier B

Crostyx 7 Colchester 0

COLCHESTER suffered a third straight defeat to leave them with an uphill task to avoid relegation. Colchester travelled to second placed Crostyx hoping to put in the knowledge that a good performance and taking something out of the game would set them up for the chance to beat relegation.

Colchester started the game brightly and controlled much of the early exchanges. However after their first foray into the Colchester 'D' Crostyx were awarded a penalty corner from which they somehow scrambled the ball into the net after Grant Hibbert had made a save.

Colchester looked to get back into the game and had some good possession and territory however the home side attacked with pace and purpose and showed why they were second in the league. The home side added three more goals before half-time to put the game firmly out of Colchester's reach.

At half time the Colchester coach called for more effort and to play in the manner that would hopefully set them up for next weeks game against fellow strugglers Long Sutton.

Colchester settled into the second half well and once again had some good possession. However once again Colchester's problem seems to be turning possession into chances and chances into goals.

Colchester's best chance of the match fell to Rob Mann. A ball out of defence found Mann inside the Crostyx half. Mann's touch took him past the last defender to leave him one on one with the Goalkeeper. However Mann was unable to beat the keeper and get a shot in.

Crostyx added more goals late in the second half to give the game a slightly unfair look for the visitors as their performance deserved better than a seven goal reverse.

Hills Residential men of the match were Michael Pearce and Joe Rich for their hard work in the defence after some relentless attacking.