Holcombe Hockey Club’s men’s side pulled off two decent victories over the weekend.

 

NOW: Pensions Men’s National Premier League

Loughborough Students HC 2-6 Holcombe HC

Scorers: Loughborough Students HC: Elliot Smith, Laurie Bowden.

Holcombe HC: Gareth Andrew (x2), Nick Bandurak, Sam Ward, Barry Middleton, Tom O’Keeffe.

Loughborough University, Loughborough.

With the rest of the National League enjoying a week-long hiatus, Holcombe, as England’s only representative in EHL Round 1 at the beginning of the month, headed north to Loughborough University on Saturday to play their game in hand.

The Students, having gained promotion from the Northern Conference last season, have endured a troubled start to their campaign; yet to register a point from their opening 5 fixtures.

With the England U21 side travelling out to Malaysia for the annual Sultan of Johor cup, the home side were without their first choice goalkeeper for the fixture whilst the Kent side welcomed back Jonty Robinson from South Africa in place of Aaronvir Cheema.

After making the long journey up the M1, Holcombe were quickest out of the blocks and dominated the early exchanges. 6 minutes in, Nick Bandurak stole the ball from the Loughborough back line before a quick interchange with GB captain Barry Middleton put him through on goal where a delicate chip over the advancing goalkeeper gave the visitors the lead.

Holcombe continued to pressurise their hosts and were rewarded with a second just 3 minutes later. A long aerial ball from Iain Lewers released the Holcombe front line, allowing Sam Ward to pounce on a rebound after the original shot had been parried.

Loughborough rallied after falling behind and clawed one back through Elliot Smith on a penalty corner that took a costly deflection of Dan Fox as he ran the shot down. Their joy was short lived however as Holcombe regained their 2 goal advantage within the minute. Gareth Andrew pounced on an errant pass in the Loughborough back line to smash home his first of the afternoon from the edge of the circle.

A number of chances went by for the visitors as George Pinner in the Holcombe net remained largely untroubled. Just before the half-hour mark, Loughborough went to spring an aggressive press, allowing Dan Fox to carry forward 50 yards before finding Barry Middleton with a stunning cross-field pass.

With just one man to beat, Middleton duly obliged before hammering home his second in as many games for the Kent side to give them a healthy 4-1 lead at half time.

Holcombe started the second half with the same intensity and extended their lead just four minutes in. Tom O’Keeffe stole the ball deep in the Loughborough circle before delicately finishing through the ‘keeper with his back to goal to claim his first ever National Premier League goal.

With the game effectively won, Holcombe became more relaxed in their play and a drop in intensity led to a decrease in clear-cut chances. Pinner remained untroubled for the majority of the half before Andrew pounced on a vicious cross from James Steadman to claim his second and Holcombe’s sixth.

To their credit, Loughborough responded immediately through Laurie Bowdon on a penalty corner variation but it proved a mere consolation as Holcombe claimed the three points they needed to return to the top of the NOW:Pensions National Premier League.

Speaking after the game, Holcombe Manager Keith Martin said; “It was a good three points against the bottom team and it puts us back to the top of the National Premier League after 6 games. It was a workman-like performance from Holcombe without playing that well collectively.”

 

 

30/10/16   2pm

Investec Men’s National Cup 2^nd Round

Holcombe HC 2-1 Hampstead and Westminster HC

Scorers; Holcombe HC: Richard Lane, James Day.

Hampstead and Westminster HC:

Holcombe Park, Rochester.

 

 

Less than 24 hours after finishing their league fixture in Loughborough, Holcombe returned home to Rochester to face Hampstead and Westminster in the second round of the Investec Men’s National Cup.

As the only all-National Premier League tie, the fixture was undoubtedly the most keenly anticipated of the round after the thrilling league fixture played out at the same venue just a fortnight ago. Both sides chose to rotate their squads ahead of the clash in a repeat that lacked anywhere near the quality or conviction witnessed in the league encounter.

In a game littered with errors, Holcombe dominated the first period; barraging their opponents’ circle to create a number of opportunities. A number of penalty corners were unsuccessfully converted as tribute must be paid to the Hampstead and Westminster goalkeeper, understudy to David Kettle, who made a number of crucial stops for his side.

With the visitors restricted to predominantly counter attacks, they executed one to perfection just before half time; winning their first penalty corner of the game to convert with a straight flick and go into the half a goal ahead.

Some choice words at half time from the Holcombe coach Julian Halls had the desired effect as the home side wrestled back momentum at the start of the second half. Some good ball movement between Dan Fox, Iain Lewers and Jonty Robinson in particular helped to carve out a number of chances for the hosts.

Early into the period they were rewarded as captain Richard Lane converted a penalty corner variation to restore parity.

With the deadlock finally broken, Holcombe continued to pour forward in search of the winner, Robert Field had a great one-on-one opportunity saved and Nick Bandurak hit the crossbar the winning goal finally came. A trademark counter-attack from Holcombe, led by the imperious Barry Middleton, played through Bandurak who crossed on the backhand for debutant James Day to slide in.

With neither side able to demonstrate the required clinical forward play in the circle, the game deteriorated still further into a scrappy affair. There was still time for controversy before the end however as a goal-bound Hampstead shot struck the body of Holcombe defender Ali Bray. Despite Andrew Perkins covering in the Holcombe goal, the umpires waived play to continue to end the contest on a sour and unfortunate note.

“It was a hard fought win with both teams not at full strength” said Holcombe Manager Keith Martin, “Holcombe should have been out of sight in the first half but for some good saves form their goalkeeper and three clearances off the line as well as some average finishing from us.”

With only 6 National Premier League teams in the competition at the start of the day, a win was always the priority over the performance however the Kent side will have to improve as they head into next weekends’ clash with high-flying East Grinstead as they welcome Ashley Jackson back to Holcombe Park.

Pictures supplied by Andy Smith.