|
spectator November 7 2011 |
 |
three one-to them |
| Guildford
Men's
1st
XI
3
-
Havant
Men's
1st
XI
1 On a bright but cold midday at Guildford the home team pushed back and for the opening exchanges looked the more determined of the two teams. The first half chance of the game fell to Guildford after a ball threaded through the midfield was not stopped by Sunny and a Guildford forward had only Andrew Isaac's to beat, but Andy was up to the challenge and cleared the ball. The first ten minutes belonged to Guildford and it was during this period of supremacy that Guildford took the lead. In the 7th minute Mo Lester carelessly gave the ball away in our 25 and Jonathan Haynes made no mistake entering the circle placing a reverse shot past Isaacs. Two minutes later Guildford won a penalty corner, which resulted in a re-take, which again came to nothing. It took a good fifteen minutes for Havant to start to compete and on this time Havant had their first chance of the game after a Guildford defender moved the ball across the circle, but Andrew Pett could not quite intersect the pass. Despite Havant still unable to hold onto the ball in the 22nd minute Andrew Pett did pierce the defence only to find the imposing figure of ex England and Great Britain keeper Simon Mason smoother his options. A minute later Havant did have the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed as the final touch from Ben Mackey was played above his head. Havant were now starting to press Guildford back and after a very slow start they began to move the ball with some intent. In the 30th minute we witnessed a piece of brilliance that had both sets of supporters clapping with appreciation. A good pass from defence found Hatherley in the circle and his shot was saved low down by Simon Mason. Simon deflected the shot to Colin French who with a first time shot sent the ball goal bound just under the bar. A twisting and diving Mason sprang up and managed somehow to get his finger tips to the ball sending it over the bar. The half time whistle sounded with Havant in supremacy but regretting a very poor first fifteen minutes. |
The
second
half
could
not
of
started
better
for
Havant
as
within
two
minutes
they were back on level terms. A turn over by Sunny in the
Guildford midfield allowed him to drive forward slipping the ball to
Andrew Pett wide on the left hand side of the circle. Andrew drifting
further left sent an unstoppable reverse shot past a diving Mason for a
contender of goal of the season. Having worked ourselves back into the game we were guilty of our second defensive give away after a long ball from the Guildford defence down the left wing found an unmarked Jonathan Haynes. He slipped past Raj Laly and adverted Jamie Askham who came sliding in for a tackle. With two men eliminated Jonathan strode into the circle and placed a shot past Isaacs in the 44th minute. After this set back Havant again moved forward with purpose but were too nieve to trouble Mason and far too often tried to penetrate down crowded channels rather than move the ball round the Guildford defence. A lack of posting up in front of defenders to receive the ball in the circle allowed Guildford to snuff out attacks, whilst setting up Guildford counter attacks. In the 61st minute Sunny managed to pierce the Guildford attack with one of his jinxing runs, but Simon Mason was in no mood to be beaten again and was quick to move out and smoother the danger. Jon Smedley had a similar chance in the 66th minute but found Mason more than a match. In the 69th minute Guildford won a penalty corner, which was converted by the evergreen player coach Ian Jennings, who at the age of 49 had played the whole game, and although he has lost his pace he has not lost the ability to make some telling passes and generally use his experience to control a fit and eager Guildford team. Birmingham University and Team Bath Buccaneers both won today against Cheltenham and Fareham, so we are now in third position five points behind leaders Birmingham who we play at Home next Sunday. Chris Pickett |
