Holt Harlequins 2 Crane 9

Division 4NE

Holt Harlequins 2 Crane 9

Eight of this games eleven goals came after the break when Crane really put on the performance.

As usual, the opening was a cagey affair as the teams got the measure of each other, but Crane edged in front when Andy Bristow picked up his own rebound from the keeper and rolled it into the empty goal to open the scores.

Crane went close again when Keiron Bromley sent a perfect aerial shot into space behind the back line but the resulting shot went wide, as did further good opportunities from Bloomfield brothers Aiden and Craig.

Despite this Crane were lacklustre and sloppy in possession and were punished when a Holt penalty corner deflected up into the top corner to level the scores. Further frustration followed for Crane as they tried to re-establish their lead, finally nudging themselves back in front when Bromley took the slip from a penalty corner and his flick found the bottom corner of the goal.

A collective decision at half time to up the pace, tempo and quality of play lead to a completely different second half. Within seconds of the restart the lead was extended when Bristow swept home Craig Bloomfield's reverse pass from a penalty corner and Bristow claimed another shortly afterwards, this time deflecting Andy Eldens shot after Elden had shown some excellent individual skill to create the opening.

Crane were really on top now and Holt were visibly deflated, having been so competitive in the first half, but there was no mercy from Crane whose speed of thought and passing had reached another level. Jon Goulden was released down the right channel and his well timed centre was swept high into the net by Bristow for his fourth of the day and to make the scores 5-1.

Two further penalty corners resulted in a goal for Andy Elden and a nice combination with Trevor Bunce allowed Bloomfield to grab his first of the day. Bloomfield scored again shortly afterwards, ghosting in behind the defence and deflecting in Bristow's driven pass with a lovely late cut.

This was turning into a savage mauling and the final goal really demonstrated Cranes superiority. Andy Hicks found Elden from a defensive hit out, Elden played Andel Williams into the left hand channel who drew both the keeper and the defence toward him before angling a perfect pass to the supporting Bristow who rolled the ball into the empty goal.

Pleased with their win, Crane can expect a much tougher examination when fourth placed Norwich Union visit them next week where a win would set them up very well for promotion to the next division.