Last-gasp Colchester

NE14HOCKEY East League Division 1 North

Colchester 2 Watton 2

Colchester snatched a last minute draw from a rollercoaster of a game against Watton on Saturday.

Watton started the game with intent, applying immense pressure on the Colchester defence for the opening quarter of an hour. Watton were rewarded with short corner after short corner leaving Colchester thankful that Lorraine Arthur and Anna-Marie Bradley were fast enough to block any resulting strikes on goal. It wasn't until midway through the half that the home side finally managed to pass the ball around and cause the visitors problems. The deadlock was broken when Colchester were awarded a free hit just outside the Watton D, which Anna Foley stepped up to take. The resulting hit was met with a first time strike from Helen Wall, beating the keeper with ease. The sides went into half time with Colchester fortunate to be ahead.

The second half started as the first had done with Watton pressurising and creating chances. Colchester were up against it but defended admirably, with Naomi Allen making a fine save on the line from another short corner. Colchester managed to ride their luck for much of the half until one short corner too many found Watton equalising from a deflection.

In what was to be a nightmare five minutes for Colchester, Watton continued to push forward and were awarded a penalty flick after the ball was stopped by a foot on the line, which they converted to take the lead once again.

Colchester left it late to take something out and the game, equalising from a short corner with just a minute left on the clock. Helen Wall's deflected strike looped over the keeper to the delight of the Colchester players, who got a draw from a game that only minutes earlier had looked lost.