CHARNWOOD MOUNTSORREL MENS HOCKEY CLUB

PRESS RELEASE

Charnwood close to cup upset

Newly formed Charnwood Mountsorrel Men’s Veterans faced a baptism of fire in their first ever official game at the weekend (Sun 9^th Oct).

The team ventured north to Belper in round one of the EHA Veterans Cup. Their visit to Christchurch Meadows was only the second time the team had played together. Against a strong Belper side, expected to do well in the competition, there was more than a little trepidation in the Charnwood camp.

As expected, Charnwood faced intense pressure from the start. Belper were a strong, well-disciplined side playing non-stop hockey and moving the ball round at pace. Early forays into the Charnwood D were defended well, with Graham Wolloff and Tony Kirk making some critical tackles to keep the the visitors very much in the game.

After 10 minutes, a quick ball from the Charnwood defence found Russ Seton in space on the left. Breaking swiftly, he picked out strike-partner Mark Weaver free at the top of the Belper D. Weaver cut in from the right of the circle, evaded the lone defender and cracked home a splendid drive low to the keeper’s right.

A goal from Charnwood’s first attack stung Belper into action, and within a few minutes they were level from a scrappy short corner. And so the first half progressed, Belper pressing forward hard and Charnwood absorbing the pressure to repeatedly hit back on the break.

Five minutes before half-time, another sharp attack from Charnwood led first to a short corner and then a penalty after Russ Seton’s powerful strike hit a Belper foot on the line. Up stepped Kevin Stanton-King to calmly restore Charnwood’s lead with a deft flick low to the keeper’s left.

The second half continued the theme. Belper pressed hard from the start looking for an equaliser. Charnwood’s midfield pairing of Ross Merrick and Chris Waterfield fought an exhausting battle with their excellent counterparts. Together with the outstanding Kirk and Wolloff in defence, each Belper attack was thwarted and turned round. Five minutes in, another long ball found Mark Weaver on the half-way line. His first touch wrong-footed the Belper defender and allowed Weaver to sprint clear towards the D where he rounded the keeper to slot home from an acute angle.

Yet again Belper rallied and their superb, fast-flowing hockey pulled a goal back shortly after. Sensing a famous recovery, Belper redoubled their efforts and, despite a series of good saves by Charnwood keeper Mick Barlow, finally equalised with minutes to go.

3-3 at the final whistle meant extra time under ‘golden-goal’ rules. Both teams could have taken the glory; Russ Seton hit the post from a Charnwood short corner and the Belper centre-forward flicked over an empty net with the last strike of the game. Ultimately a penalty shoot-out settled the affair. From Charnwood’s first four attempts, only Stanton-King converted with Merrick, Seton and Kirk all narrowly missing the target. Belper scored from three of their first four flicks to progress, a very relieved side, into round two.

Charnwood have the consolation of the National Plate to fall back on. However they will enter this competition full of confidence after an accomplished first performance against illustrious opposition.

Squad:

Mick Barlow, Wayne Henderson, Ed Allen, Graham Wolloff, Paul Carter, Ross Merrick,

Dave Allen, Tony Kirk, Chris Waterfield, Kevin Stanton-King, Mark Weaver, Russ Seton, Nigel Calow, Gary Mason, Tony McKee

10.10.05

Contact: Russ Seton

Tel: 01865 353413

e-mail: russ.seton@oup.com