Struggling hockey seconds beaten by Hallam
MEN’S HOCKEY: UNIVERSITY OF YORK SECONDS 1 SHEFFIELD HALLAM THIRDS 2
BUCS Northern Conference 5B, Wednesday 28th January 2009
According to the Ancient Mayans, souls of the dead had to follow a dog with night-vision on a horrific and watery path, enduring myriad challenges, before they could rest in the afterlife. York’s hockey second string may not be dead, but they certainly are slightly less alive after coming a cropper on the horrific and watery path of defeat to fellow strugglers Sheffield Hallam thirds.
Bottom played second bottom. The stakes were high, perhaps too high. At times, emotions were even higher. Awareness of the importance of the game was etched on to every player’s face. First blood went to York. Captain Joe Spedding, leading by example, struck home with only a few minutes on the clock. Spedding was York’s standout player throughout, exhibiting constant endeavour and desire up front. Following this, Hallam had a spell of prolonged pressure in the York half, with the home side’s passing lacking coherence. Hallam squandered a series of short corners; on one occasion their corpulent centre-back delaying his shot until the defender had actually reached the ball before him.
(Justyn Hardcastle)
The pressure finally told about half-way through the first half. A penetrative forward run allowed the Hallam player a shot on goal, which was cruelly diverted into his own net by the York defender, nutmegging the keeper in the process. A cruel goal at a bad time, but that’s hockey.
Hallam were tough and violent at times and this sparked one extraordinary moment. In all my years as a sports reporter on university hockey games, I have never seen a fan intervene directly in the game. But it happened in this game. The ball was slid down the line towards the York goal past the massed ranks of Yorkite spectators stood like people waiting for a train. A blasé foot appeared and stopped the ball before it went over the line. Chaos ensued. The referee made the questionable decision of giving York possession to the downright rage of the Hallam players. Rancorous invective was flinged from the watching fans united behind their erring member to the Hallam players:
“You’re a bunch of flipping pansies.”
“Keep your feet to yourselves you pillock.”
“I’m absolutely blooming livid.”
Each lone voice was imbued with an apoplectic sense of injustice. Tension gripped the air. Hallam’s Chris Goodchild took the animosity beyond the stinging verbals noted above, aiming a vicious swipe at the legs of the impressive Hugh Richards. A justified booking followed. It was a violent climax to what had been a decent first half performance by York.
(Justyn Hardcastle)
The second half had the expected workmanlike effort, but once again the pass selection let York down and invited Hallam pressure. Captain Spedding’s frustration began to show, frequently imploring his team to do the simple things right. Hallam’s winner came in extraordinary circumstances. It is said that a good referee goes unnoticed. It is hard, however, not to notice when a clearance strikes him on the chest. The Hallam forward, sensing an illicit-seeming opportunity, pounced, shadowed by the desperate challenge of York keeper Chevin. In the melee, the referee, no doubt smarting from the strike to the chest, gave a penalty to Hallam. Big game, big decision. York bemoaned it, but the umpire had few options. Angry swiper Goodchild stepped up to strike the penalty home to the raucous cheers of his Hallam brethren. If they could hold on to the lead, a crushing blow could be struck in the relegation dogfight.
From then on, York threatened only sporadically, flashing a few shots wide of the Hallam goal but failing to test the keeper. The impressive defensive midfielder Harcourt helped to link up play going forward, but York could not find a way through. On seeing one-too-many shooting opportunity go begging, the archaically named Gordon Harrison chucked his stick to the floor. The stick lay as a symbol of a frustrated and defeated York side. Hallam’s insincere cheers for York at the end echoed in the cold night air. York were beaten. A date with the Reaper looms large.
York line-up: Chevin (gk), Hugh Richards, Jamie Evans, Ben Rogan, Joe Lancaster, Sam Butterfield, Tom Harcourt, Luke Featherstone, Gordon Harrison, Rich Morton, Joe Spedding, Sam Dart, Will Fresson, Adam Tyrrell
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