Press Release - 19/01/1997
East Antrim Hockey Club
19 January 1997
For further information, contact:
Stephen Swann
Press Release Officer - East Antrim Hockey Club
34 Carnmoney Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 6HP
078 0316 7731
stephen@eastantrim.co.uk
EAST ANTRIM V CROSSGAR
A Friday evening match at Lough Moss Leisure Centre in Carryduff was the setting for the Intermediate League match between Crossgar and East Antrim.
A game of cultured hockey it wasn't. Instead the game turned out to be more of a battle than of class. Three players were shown yellow cards during the match and a stream of green cards were issued. The heavy sand on the astroturf pitch seemed to cause East Antrim more problems as their swift passing game was disrupted. Despite the initial problems, however, East Antrim took the lead after Raymond Hughes scored his fourth goal of the season. His first attempt rebounded of the keeper, who was given no chance second time round.
Michael Jackson, 52, was making his second appearance in the East Antrim goals. Michael's first appearance was also against Crossgar when East Antrim ended 4-0 winners. The crowd expected the floodgates to open again, but the second goal was difficult to achieve.
At half-time, stern words were spoken to liven the East Antrim team up - to no avail. Lack of shape, ill-discipline and strange challenges from the Crossgar defence meant that dangerous penetration into the home team's penalty circle was hard to come by.
The first major blow to East Antrim came when a defensive blunder gifted Crossgar an undeserved equaliser. Justice seemed to have been served when Scott Higginson popped up at the far post to guide the ball into the Crossgar net just five minutes later.
The second major blow, however, came when again the East Antrim defence was caught napping. A second goal for Crossgar made the scoreline 2-2 which turned out to be the final result.
East Antrim : M Jackson, M Watson, S Swann (Captain), A Murphy, R Hughes, A Burgess, A Hull, N Hermon, A McDonald, D Haggan, T Browne, S Higginson
East Antrim 2nd XI revived their season with a 6-0 demolition of Collegians. Traveling to the Malone side of town with a makeshift team didn't seem to matter to team captain, Robert Gibson. His super striker, Colin Black, scored 5 to take his season's tally to 26 goals. David Haggan scored the other to alleviate any "One Man Roadshow" comments.
The 2nd XI, although being pegged back after their defeat the previous week, are still in first place in Junior League 5 and are hopeful of achieving the league and cup double. After the game, Gibson said "On our day, I don't think there is any team in that league that can live with us. If I have my full complement of players, we would frighten teams a good few leagues above us".
East Antrim 3rd XI lost their first home match of the season to league leaders, Raphoe. The final score of 1-0 to the Donegal team flattered the Glengormley men as the youngsters from Raphoe put on an exhibition of hockey, despite their 2 hour journey. The 3rd XI, despite being in the hunt for honours early in the season, must string a number of wins together to keep up with the runaway leaders in Junior 8 - Raphoe.
|
