After a great team performance last week slaz were looking to get another win with an away match at Leeds Adel Carnegie 5th. This however was not the case and slaz came away with a 1-1 draw.
The Match itself was a close one with both teams pushing for the win. Slaz took an early lead with a well-worked goal. Man of the Match Matt Banks crossed the ball to Jake Barras on the wing who charged into the D and had a shot which was saved but Jake slotted the ball home off the rebound. Instead of gaining momentum slaz seemed to back off which allowed Adel to create chances of their own with James Walker making some great saves in the slaz net to deny Adel.
Adel soon equalised from a free hit and some slack defending from slaz. The free hit was just outside the D, it was taken quickly and was crossed into the D with an Adel player gaining half a yard in front of the defence to tap the ball in. With Slaz unluckily going behind they stepped up their game and started to pile pressure on Adel again, creating a couple of decent chances but Adel’s defence kept slaz at bay until half time.
The second Half was just as close as the first however slaz did have more chances to score. Both teams were looking to score from counter attacks, which seemed to create a lot of end-to-end hockey. Slaz seemed to have the better of the chances but did not take them. A close opportunity was from Simon Randall who crossed the ball into the D aiming for Byron Dean but the Adel keeper came out to clear the ball. Another chance came from a short corner but again the keeper saved two shots and Adel’s defence cleared the ball.
A draw was the fairest outcome in a match that both teams felt they could have got a win. Apart from the disappointment of not winning the match was well contested and was enjoyable. Slaz’s next match is at home against Leeds 5th.
From Rob Whawell
Match played on 5th February 2011 at Slazenger Hockey Club
