Division 1 Men
Redbacks 2 d Strikers 1
IN the Division 1 men’s Lower South East Hockey Association competition, Redbacks claimed a 2-1 win over an undermanned Strikers squad.
Beginning the match two players short, Strikers had to work hard to maintain possession early on.
The young forward line was working well in groups to connect the play, but the skilled Redbacks’ defensive line prevented any real attacking shots on goal.
Redbacks showed better linkages in play and Dean McCarthy, Chris Hunt and Dale Tucker were busy in the Strikers’ backline to turn the ball over before it reached Redbacks’ scoring circle.
A penalty corner taken by Redbacks saw an initial fumble with the trap, but a quick recovery and good deflection by Tom Walker saw Redbacks convert for a 1-0 lead before half time.
The second half saw Redbacks with more control of the play.
Switching play from the baseline to the top of the circle saw Aaron Barry score his team’s second to secure a two-goal margin.
Strikers’ Dean McCarthy worked hard to lift the momentum of his side and Liam Delaney timed his attacking drive well to link up with McCarthy and give his side a penalty corner chance.
This was efficiently converted by Jordan Millhouse.
Strikers’ Dale Tucker and Redbacks’ Harry Maddern made for an entertaining match up.
Promising youngster Angus Langsmith was reliable in the midfield for Strikers and set up their second short corner.
Strikers did not convert, but saw more of the play after this and found better connection, despite going down by a single goal at the final whistle.
Goals – Redbacks: Aaron Barry, Tom Walker; Strikers: Jordan Millhouse.
Best – Redbacks: Toby Maddern, Sam Kuhl, Harry Maddern; Strikers: Dean McCarthy, Jordan Millhouse, Mason Hill.
Division 2 Men
Strikers 3 d Rams 0
STRIKERS claimed a solid 3-0 win when it took on the Naracoorte Rams in Round 6 of the Lower South East hockey Division 2 men’s competition.
Welcoming the skilful Dave Saunders back into the side, Strikers controlled much of the play and caused headaches early for the Rams’ defenders Kieren Brennan, Andru Doecke and Kenn Jardine.
Graham Millhouse had an early chance for an impressive deflection, but he sent the ball just wide of goals, sending the crowd into a spin.
Steve Mitchell was dominant up front for Strikers and found plenty of options with Mason Hill and Connor Millhouse linking well in attack to drive the ball forwards.
Strikers gained a couple of penalty corner chances late in the first half, but it was a nice set up by Mason Hill into Graeme Millhouse for another good deflection which saw the first goal of the match scored.
Dave Saunders scored Strikers’ second goal with a solid hit on a penalty corner, before Cameron Perry scored the third after he finished off a nice cross.
The defensive pressure of Mark DeGaris and Nick Copping made it difficult for Naracoorte to have an impact on the scoreboard and the Rams went scoreless at the end of the game.
Goals – Strikers: Graeme Millhouse, Cameron Perry, Dave Saunders.
Best – Strikers: Connor Millhouse, Steve Mitchell, Dave Saunders; Naracoorte Rams: Merlin Lawrence, Jaali Brennon, Jacob Edwards.
Division 3 Men
Redbacks 2 d Strikers 0
A REDBACKS’ victory was the result when it took on Strikers in the 2017 Division 3 men grand final rematch on Sunday.
Getting an early jump and controlling majority of the attacking play in the first half, Redbacks was eager to score.
Strikers too was hungry for goals and its centre forward Andrew Thomas had some good scoring chances that were saved by Redbacks’ keeper Cameron Beal.
Redbacks’ first goal was a spectacular deflection by right wing Steve Vause after a good buildup of play created a penalty corner chance.
Fuelled with momentum, Redbacks’ Nash Lobely soon scored his team’s second goal when smooth midfield team play resulted in an overlap in their attack.
Strikers opened the second half with better play and cleaner passing, but it struggled to penetrate the defensive lineup of Redbacks’ Peter Cunningham, Albert Buwalda and Rod Sparks.
The game went from end to end without much progression late in the second half as both sides tired.
Strikers’ Angus Hopgood was working hard in the midfield and sent numerous balls into the attacking circle hoping for a lucky deflection and goal, but it was not to be.
Terry Nisbet, Daryl Watson and Dave Coombe continued to work hard for Strikers, holding off any further Redbacks goals before full time.
Goals – Redbacks: Steven Vause, Nash Lobley.
Best – Redbacks: Stephen White, Craig Andrea, Nash Lobley; Strikers: Angus Hopgood, Ethan Thomas, Andrew Schubert.
Division 1 Women
West 5 d Tigers 0
WEST has dominated the early stages of the Division 1 Lower South East Hockey Association season, with Tigers facing a tough task in Round 6 in cold conditions at Blue Lake Sports Park last Friday night.
Although missing a few players, West was on fire, which was evident on the scoreboard.
Angela Broad provided a welcome return to form.
Tigers would have been in all sorts of trouble if it was not for the stout defence of Brooke Marcus, who time-after-time instigated the turnover.
However, West held the advantage at the half-time break.
The second half was a more even affair.
Tigers was unable to create scoring chances, but the young brigade featuring Cody Hood, Kaitlin Nisbett and Marcus put in a solid effort.
The 5-0 victory was good for West, but it would be disappointed to have not added a few more goals in the second half.
Goals – West: A. Broad, C. Lewis 2, C. MacKenzie. Best – West: Mi. Clarke, C. Emerson, Ma. Clark; Tigers: C. Hood, H. Hinton, D. Jones.
Division 2 Women
Strikers 3 d Naracoorte 0
FIELDING a side two players short made a hard afternoon for Naracoorte in its Division 2 clash against Strikers.
However, it did not impact its attitude and work rate, as it was the first to secure a penalty corner chance.
This woke the Strikers side up and was cleared effectively back into its attack.
Rebel Skirving provided plenty of space and drive in attack for Strikers, with her side taking the majority of play in attack.
They came up against a determined defence and struggled relentlessly to find the goals past Naracoorte’s Brigitta White and keeper Chelsee Muelders.
The second half saw more scoring chances for Strikers, but its conversion rate was poor.
Eventually it was Kim Henningsen who managed to find the back of the net to give Strikers the hard-earned lead.
Strikers then fired up and added to its tally with another goal from a cross by Anna Gourley to Skirving.
Skirving inspired her side with some rallying encouragement and it was another team goal that saw Julieanne Schubert find the back of the net.
Goals – Riddoch Strikers: J. Schubert, K. Henningsen, D. Hinze. Best – Riddoch Strikers: K. Henningsen, C. Baseley, C. Ashby; Naracoorte: M. Derrington, S. Kaczmarek, S. Derrington.
Division 3 Women
Redbacks 1 d Strikers 0
WITH some close match ups in the mid field, the initial play resembled a tennis rally more than hockey when Redbacks faced Strikers in Division 3.
Strikers took control after some time, but struggled to penetrate its attack line.
Redbacks took advantage of its chances and secured an early penalty corner, but it was unable to convert.
Strikers’ Deb Lang and Redbacks’ Anja Didsbury were well matched for skill and the pace of Redbacks’ Bethanie Brodie made Strikers’ Anna Mitchell work hard in the centre.
Redbacks keeper Alex Cape was on point and made a great sliding save to stop a certain Strikers goal.
Strikers had multiple penalty corners in the first half, but it was a quick turnover and great run through the midfield by Redbacks’ Bethanie Brodie that outpaced the Strikers defence and scored the first goal.
Strikers picked up its work rate in the second half, but struggled to connect its passing.
Lang, Mitchell and Caitlyn Lambert combined well in patches, but the scrambling defence by Cape in goals was formidable.
Bridie Horbury delivered great drive from left half and set up several attacking chances for Strikers, but the quick skills of Jodie Glasson and Ros Bishop held off any goal further goal attempts.
Goals – Redbacks: B. Brody. Best – Redbacks: J. Glasson, A. Didsbury, J. Miller; Riddoch Strikers: D. Lang, C. Lambert, K. Boylan.
