Press Release - 13/10/1996
East Antrim Hockey Club
13 October 1996
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
The Valley Leisure Centre was the setting for East Antrim's oldest 1st XI debutant. Fifty three year old Michael Jackson was drafted into the starting lineup due to a goalkeeping crisis which saw both the 1st XI and 2nd XI keepers unavailable for the crucial cup match against Crossgar.
After conceding seven goals the previous week, club captain Stephen Swann was looking for a much improved performance in preparation for this weeks Irish Junior Cup match against Annadale. The game saw a return to action for Alan Murphy, Scott Higginson, Allen Hull and Tim Kay - all lucky enough to have missed the previous week's debacle.
10 minutes into the contest, Tim Browne, operating on the left wing, got the ball rolling for East Antrim.David Caldwell provided the telling pass for Browne to grab his second goal of the tournament. Within minutes, 1st XI veteran, Raymond Hughes, doubled the lead after neat interchanges with Higginson. Hughes could have further added to the score shortly after with a rasping shot from a penalty corner - the Crossgar keeper proved equal to the attempt. With just minutes of the first half remaining, Higginson turned supplier again for Adam McDonald to score a simple "tap in".
The second half saw East Antrim take to the pitch with only 10 players as Hughes was being attended to at the side of the pitch for a nasty wound to the shin. Normality was resumed upon his return to the fray as East Antrim tried to press home the obvious advantage they had.
Halfway through the second half the match turned sour when frustration set in amongst the Crossgar players. Umpire Derek Standbridge was called into action to caution two players (1 from each team) for ungentlemanly conduct. Still East Antrim created opportunites but Higginson, Hermon and Hull were all guilty of missed opportunities. Higginson did redeem himself, however, by scoring the fourth and final goal of the game.
It wasn't all good news for the Glengormley based team, however, as Vice-Captain Alan Burgess was carried of the pitch after aggravating an old knee injury. Burgess is now considered doubtful for the forthcoming Annadale match.
"It was good to shake off the effects of losing last week to Portrush" said Stephen Swann. "A 4-0 win can only increase our confidence, but it is going to be a very different game against Annadale next week. We shouldn't get carried away with today's result."
East Antrim Team - Michael Jackson, Mark Watson, Stephen Swann, Alan Murphy, Raymond Hughes, Allen Hull, Alan Burgess, David Caldwell, Neal Hermon, Scott Higginson, Tim Browne, Adam McDonald, Tim Kay
Man Of The Match - Allen Hull
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