Slazengers Mens 2nd team completed their pre-christmas fixures with a 3-2 home win against Sheffield Uni Bankers 6ths. To coin a phrase, this was a game of 2 halves with Slazengers leading 3-0 at half time only for Bankers to bounce back in the 2nd half.
The first half comprised of Slazengers playing excellent hockey, passing the ball well, using the space and stretching Bankers at every opportunity. The deserved breakthrough came when Paul Johnson drove home a penalty corner. Slazengers continued to press with Jake Barras and Matt Stacey making good inroads down the wings and it was Ben Graham who doubled the lead with a strong strike from the top of the ‘D’. Matt Stacey made it 3 with an excellent reverse stick strike from an acute angle.
At the half time break, Slazengers asked for more of the same but Bankers had other ideas. The 2nd half started with Bankers pressing high and Slazengers struggled to deal with this, their passing game broke down and players began to lose concentration. Bankers struck early in the half and then pulled another back midway through the half. Slazengers eventually settled and began passing it around again and created some opportunities only to be denied by the home keeper and lack of composure in front of goal. Rowan Tejura took the man of the match award.
Considering this is their first season in a higher league, Slazengers will be happy with their mid table position going into the 2nd half of the season.
