England Hockey National Cup

OKEHAMPTON MEN’S FIRSTS 2

WINCHESTER A 1

OKEHAMPTON Hockey Club welcomed Winchester A for an England Hockey national cup second round game on Saturday.

Okehampton started the game and immediately the visitors were hard on the press, however the pressure was easily absorbed by the Okehampton defence and midfield led by Rod Gers.

Winchester kept pressing hard trying to force mistakes from the home side but heads were kept cool and it was Okehampton that began to look dangerous with some quick passing and fast runs leading to some great chances which were fended off by the Winchester keeper.

At half time the score remained 0-0 with both teams having had their chances.

The second half got underway and it continued at the same high pace of the

first half. However, it was only a matter of time before Okehampton’s patience

was rewarded; a calculated aerial ball was plucked out of the air at the top of the

D by Speak giving a ‘two-on-one’ with the keeper; he drew him out of position and slid the ball to Miller who dispatched it into the goal to the delight of the home

supporters.

After the goal, Okehampton had the upper hand and drove back the Winchester press and started to control the game with fluid passing around the pitch and utilising their full squad they continued to create opportunities in attack while being stalwart in defence.

With the intensity of the game, both teams were starting to feel the pressure but Okehampton stayed calm as Winchester worked hard to create opportunities. Their powerful game paid off as they created an overload counter attack snaking through the defence allowing a shot on goal; Oke keeper Westlake was there to cover but the ball rebounded off the post straight to the Winchester forward who

tapped the ball into the goal.

Okehampton kicked up a gear and after several chances at both ends leading to nothing it looked like the game would be decided by penalty strokes. However, a moment of magic from Oke saw Miller drive towards the baseline; he found Speak

who slotted it between the legs of the keeper 2-1 with only minutes left on

the clock.

Winchester still pressed hard for an equaliser to no avail and as

the final whistle went, the game concluded with the home side going through to the next round.