Despite a delayed start away at Sheffield Hallam and the pouring rain, Slazenger 3rd’s didn’t let the conditions distract them and started their latest division 6 match brightly and laid siege to the Sheffield goal from the first minute.
Producing one of the most one-sided halves of hockey for quite a while. Time and again the away team attacked down the flanks with Ian Hedges and Luke Gueli getting round the opposition with ease and always looking to play one of their team mates in with an attempt on goal. It was no surprise when Man of the Match Jack Mumford converted the first goal after an intricate move within the goalmouth.
The away team continued to apply pressure and denying the opposition both time on the ball and limiting the opposition to any meaningful possession by keeping hold of the ball with simple passing to team mates who were always available in space.
Slazenger’s continued to score with frequent regularity during the first half with Steve Johnson, Ste Roberts and substitute Byron Dean all adding goals. The opposition look totally shellshocked at the half time whistle.
Second half Slazengers were looking for more of the same but in a classic game of two halves, Sheffield Hallam had other ideas.
Resorting to a more physical approach that was not penalised by the umpires and giving their two playmakers more of the ball allowed the home team to get more of a foothold in the game. The game became more evenly balanced and much more of a battle, especially in midfield.
Slazengers also became the victims of their own frustrations when further goal chances were not converted and they left themselves vulnerable to breakaway attacks with their eagerness to push forward. One of these attacks resulted in a Sheffield Hallam goal and they were lucky not to concede further goals.
However despite these shortcomings if Slazengers had been more clinical in front of goal, with the chances created, they would have scored a hatful of goals in the second half. This may explain why despite a healthy win the away team left the field slightly more subdued than they should have been after the match.
