Wisbech Hockey Club men's third team finish season unbeaten after beating Long Sutton
The Wisbech men’s first team’s slim survival hopes on the final day required nothing less than a win, but it wasn’t to be.
The squad went to Cambridge South with a renewed energy following the previous week’s disappointment and started brightly, but the hosts took the lead from a short corner.
With two minutes to go before half-time they had a lifeline when Tom Jupp fired into the bottom corner from the top of the D.
But the second half followed a similar pattern as South dominated the ball and Wisbech were frantic when they won it back. Three further short corner goals meant the game finished 4-1 and relegation was confirmed.
The men’s second team won 3-2 against their Spalding counterparts.
In a strong start, Matt Esser picked out Josh Porter with an elegant no-look pass, who calmly slotted the ball home.
Wisbech’s ever-increasing pressure proved fruitful once again, culminating in a second goal executed by Mallet following some expertly crafted link-up play with Porter.
Kieran Hallett then fired a beautiful aerial delivery through to Porter, who knocked it to Ross Gardner. Gardner shrugged off pressure from approaching defenders to reverse the ball past the keeper making it 3-0.
The second half proved more difficult, and two scrappy goals from Spalding made the game a tight affair. Kevin Shippey made numerous saves and brother Jonathan controlled the defence to seal a win.
The ladies’ second team faced a derby against Pelicans.
They pushed hard from the first minute, and with Ellie Cavill driving the right and Lou Sandall holding the left, a string of passes eventually led to a goal by youngster Ana Norman before half-time.
After conceding early in the second half, Alice Salmon showed excellent determination and managed to secure the next goal. Then, some amazing work from Hats Bateman with a great run down the left saw the ball moved to Lucy Ludlow, to Ana Norman and into Emma Baker, who secured the third.
The men’s third team beat local rivals Long Sutton.
Despite their league victory already being secured, the side wanted to secure a new club record of not dropping a single point the entire season.
A Ciaran Lowe reverse with the keeper unsighted saw the ball dribble into the goal for the opener.
With their noses in front, Wisbech continued to press and were rewarded with a penalty flick which was very well saved by the Sutton keeper, but another short corner was finished off for a 2-0 lead.
Sutton conceded another penalty flick which was expertly dispatched to the top left corner by Oli Overland.
It was an amazing 3-0 win to round off the season unbeaten, with every game won, 113 goals scored and only five against.
However, the ladies’ third team lost at their Pelicans counterparts.
Play went back and forth with Wisbech having the first shot on goal, but unfortunately a high ball at goal hit a Wisbech player – the umpire gave Pelicans a flick which in turn saw them score their goal.
Wisbech tried and tried again but a goal never came as they lost 1-0.
The men’s fourth team won 5-1 against St Neots at home.
An incredible start meant it was only a matter of time before the home side found their first goal, courtesy of captain Brandon Ruff.
Howard Atkins doubled their advantage with a beautifully struck strike from the top of the D, with Jordan Bown adding two more straight after the break.
St Neots got themselves a goal from a short corner, but Ruff scored his 40th goal of the season and finished off an incredible season for his side.
The ladies’ fourth team, which didn’t exist at the start of the season, sealed a brilliant 1-0 win.
That sealed a 1-0 victory for the home team, meaning they finished ninth in the league over some more well established teams.
Captain Ashleigh Lawrence said: “The Ladies 4th team is a true illustration that hockey is for everyone, and we have,
and will continue to welcome with open arms, any
ladies who want to be
involved in a truly life enhancing team sport.”
