Sheffield undone by Underwood

Following a two week break forced on Newcastle, the Royals were back in action against  Sheffield in a top-of-the-table clash at Longbenton.

Men’s Hockey 

Newcastle 1sts 3-2 Sheffield 1sts

Having drawn in the previous meeting when the sides met in Sheffield, Newcastle knew that they would have to be on their game if they were to maintain their unbeaten run. Sheffield, although having played a game more, had gotten to the top of the league on their own merit after beating Manchester and recently drawing with Leeds.

The opening exchanges were close with neither side managing to gain the advantage in the first ten minutes. The Royals were facing a side that had come to Newcastle with very clear tactics, to sit off and try to make use of the counter attack. This frustrated Newcastle, who struggled to get into their game as they would have liked with the pitch closed off with all Sheffield’s players behind the half way line.

In truth, Newcastle were misfiring, dangerously giving away possession with uncharacteristically sloppy passing. They were made to pay for this slow start on 15 minutes after a turnover of possession saw Sheffield break in number, scoring from the resulting short corner with a well worked routine back to the injector. Just five minutes later, Newcastle were to go two down again, being overrun by yet another Sheffield counter attack.

Faced with a challenge, Newcastle began the fight back. Pushing half backs up-high, the Royals aggressively tried to get back into the game, Calum Mackenzie setting the tone with a committed performance. They had their chances and thanks to some good goalkeeping were kept at bay. The goal came 5 minutes before the interval when an attacking short corner broke down on a sticky pitch only for man of the match Max Underwood to calmly strike the ball low into the right corner.

In the second half, following some choice words, Newcastle came out a different side. The tempo was raised and they started to command the game, enjoying a period of considerable pressure on the Sheffield goal. A short corner was tactically won by vice captain Hector Hall and once again Underwood was on hand to bring the Royals level with a pinpoint drag-flick into the bottom left of the goal.

Newcastle were helped in the second half by Sheffield indiscipline, with two Sheffield players spending time on the side lines for bad tackling to break up the Newcastle attacks, resulting in Ben Underwood breaking his finger. No doubt fresher Harry Kempe breathed a sigh of relief that it was not him who suffered this fate.

The game fell into some finely balanced play. Newcastle pushing hard for the win left them susceptible to Sheffield counter attacks which forced the Royals to work hard in order to protect their goal.

With less than ten to go, the chance for a winner came when Newcastle were awarded a penalty flick after a goal-bound shot deflected on to a Sheffield foot on the line. Captain John Colville stepped up and held his nerve to send the keeper the wrong way before firing low and hard into the goal. All that remained was for the home side to defend this lead, which they did successively to finish the game 3-2 victors.

Back at the top of the table Newcastle are in a strong position as the season enters the business end with only 3 league games remaining. They next face Birmingham 2nd XI at home in the semi-final of the trophy looking to secure a second final in two years. A big month of hockey for the Royals will define their season in what has been an impressive return to 1A.