Day Two Disappointment But Position Held For Indoor
Posted by Andy Darnley on 5 January 2014
On day two of the Maxinutrition Hockey 5s Championship, Cannock's Indoor squad were looking to build on their 100% record achieved on day one. Their first encounter was against Brooklands, a team they had recently met in a friendly tournament. However this was far from a friendly encounter and Cannock emerged from this physical joust with a 3 - 3 draw. Cannock had the best of the early exchanges as Martin Ebbage quickly found the net. This was followed by a Dave Beckett shot which rebounded back out from the post. Chances came and went but before half time Cannock let in Brooklands to even the score. Cannock were not concerned, as they had gone into half time in all their other games with the scores level...and then they had gone onto win! Brooklands' physical game and an unusually 'official', tolerant attitude to the 'wrestling', saw them go a goal ahead early in the second half. Cannock soon bounced back with a well forced goal from Andy Appleton. Some slack passing let Brooklands in again to go ahead. In the final minutes Dave Beckett levelled the score. Hope was raised on the stroke of time when Cannock were awarded a corner. Unfortunately Brooklands managed to clear their lines and the points were shared. In their second game Cannock hoped to return to winning form but were left disappointed as they let Hampstead and Westminster unleash their corner routine to record Cannock's first defeat. Cannock's goals came form Martin Ebbage and a hat-trick from the prolific Dave Beckett. Despite these results Cannock still sit in 3rd place in the League. Next weekend there are four more games and a further opportunity to get into one of the two promotion spots. Unfortunately Cannock will be without coach and talisman Dave Beckett who will be on international duty but should hopefully welcome back Nick Bandurak and Robby Smith.
