With no league game this week, Slazengers mens first team played strong opposition in Leeds mens seconds in the yorkshire cup on Sunday and as is usual with Sunday games, other commitments meant Slazengers entered the game with a weakened side. Leeds were a stong outfit with no less than 4 substitutes but Slazengers were determined to give them a run for their money and certainly weren’t about to lie down. The game started with Leeds holding a lot of possession but doing little with it, the back line of Buckley, Midgley and Walker in goal repelling any attacks. As the half progressed, Slazengers began to get hold of the ball and played some attractive hockey although the final ball often letting them down. It was however Leeds who broke the deadlock just before half time but only after a mistake at the back had let them in.
The second half followed a similar pattern, Leeds holding a lot of possession but Slazengers defending well and looking to attack on the break, Ben Graham coming close after robbing a Leeds defender and driving into the circle, only for the Leeds keeper to make a good save. John Sykes came closer still with the Leeds keeper making another fine save. As is often the case though, Leeds grabbed a fortunate second goal with a hopefull ball into the circle taking a deflection and sneaking in through the narrowest of gaps at the near post. After Buckley left the field injured and with Slazengers pressing, Leeds grabbed a third towards the end to earn a flattering 3-0 win. Veteran Simon Chamberlain took man of the match awards for Slazengers and although this will appear a relatively comfortable win for Leeds, Slazengers will come away confident they can take points off Leeds in the league fixtures to come.
from (Ben Graham)
