15/10/22 : Mens 2 vs Oxford University 2
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Drew 1 - 1
Hoare heroics as 2s battle hard for a point
Havant Mens 2s V Oxford Uni 2s
Back at home after a great win on the road last weekend the lads were looking for some more points. With Finn off to the 1s, it was Freddie to lead the troops standing in as skipper. The first half started well with Havant having lots of possession with some great simple hockey and doing the basics well. There were a few chances created but no real outcomes as Oxford began to take hold of the game. As expected they were a very fit side and with lots of movement it was difficult for the boys to defend and an onslaught of pressure led to numerous short corners. The flicks were good but just not good enough with Timmo between the sticks, making it look very comfortable.
The Oxford pressure continued and Havant began to look a bit ropey by cheaply giving the ball away and half time came with great relief. It was still 0-0 but everyone knew that it had to pick up if we were to get important points. Dan and Ben both wanted us to stick to our basics and we knew we had the quality to get a result.
The second half started well and after a short spell of some liquid hockey we had won a short corner. G lined up at the top and flicked hard to the right, the keeper was nowhere near it. The ball was destined to nestle just inside the right post but Joe Root remarkably cleared the ball to keep it level.
It wasn’t long until Oxford were back up the other end with more short corners, Timmo continued to bring out some unbelievable saves however one slipped through to make it 1-0. Looking a bit flat the boys needed something to get that belief back, only a few minutes later that spark came. Ben Miles won possession high up the pitch then layed it off to Tristan who drove along the baseline. The ball came across and James ‘did you know I scored?’ Healey finished well on the turn to level it up once more.
Although the energy was back Oxford still looked very dangerous, it was now short corner after short corner. A goal had to be coming, but once again Timmo made some unreal saves including a diving stick save to win the champagne moment. It has to be said that we were kept in that match by Tim and it has to have been the easiest man of the match decision of the season.
Dick of the day was also quite unanimous going to James Healey for bragging about his finish in more ways than one with other votes going to Warren for the green card and Joe Price despite a great debut; missing the Fareham game to go to a party is simply DOD material. I would also criticize Dan for the same offence but I’d quite like to start next week so I’ll let him off.
