Penarth Hockey Club missed out on a victorious clean sweep at the weekend, as the 1st XI succumbed to defeat with the last touch of their Verde Recreo Premiership game against Clifton Robinsons.
Clifton Robinsons 5-4 PENARTH
After bouncing back to winning ways in their only home game of the campaign so far, the 1st XI were looking to build some momentum as they travelled to Coombe Dingle to take on fellow top five club Clifton Robinsons.
The game started with a bang as the Bears immediately turned over possession from the pushback, worked the ball out wide to Chris Baker, who outpaced his marker before finding Ross Biggar on the 90 in the ‘D’. Biggar, in turn, squared the ball to new signing Jake Connolly to tap home into an empty net for his first Penarth goal.
The visitors were looking the brighter side in the early exchanges and, even though they were eventually caught on the counter and conceded a soft equaliser, continued to dominate, with Robinsons struggling to cope with their pace in attack. It wasn’t long, either, before the Bears retook the lead with another well-worked team goal. This time, working the ball around the back allowed the Vale side to build up pressure before Chris Hardy sent a pinpoint aerial ball to Tom Haran on the left-hand base line. The captain then drove infield, beating his man, before finding an unmarked Matthew Stollery, who got his head up in time to find Matthew Grey, who finished with aplomb to also grab a first competitive goal for his new club.
Penarth were playing some excellent hockey, but the home team dug in and were rewarded for their resilience as another breakaway lead to a penalty corner that was expertly dispatched by their skipper. Despite there being little time remaining in the first half, the Bears refused to back off, and their desire to continue attacking to the whistle paid dividends as Joe Thomas, playing the ball out of defence, found Haran at halfway of the right flank. This time, Penarth’s captain stood his man up, beat the defence and slipped the ball past the onrushing ‘keeper to see his side retake the lead seconds before the interval.
The visitors continued to play on the front foot when the second half got underway, again causing Robinsons problems with their pace out wide. This created some early chances, but a fourth goal, no matter how likely it looked, refused to come. When a penalty corner was mistrapped, Robinsons took full advantage of the gift, adding another breakaway goal to level the game.
Frustrated by the setback, Penarth were then guilty of forcing the play as they looked to regain the lead and, as play became more open and balanced, their hosts capitalised to take the lead for the first time. Again, there was a little luck involved as a ball into the ‘D’ looked to be drifting harmlessly wide, only to rebound off a post and straight to an attacking player, who made no mistake from short range.
The Bears made sure that the lead was short-lived, however, quickly winning another penalty corner which Chris Baker swept home for 4-4, but, with the game heading for a draw, the outcome hinged on a somewhat dubious penalty corner awarded to the home team right on the final whistle. Although Scott Fulton-Brown saved well from the initial strike, Penarth’s imminent clearance was halted by another soft corner award which, in true ironic fashion, was converted to give Robinsons a late, late victory.
The Bears were left in disbelief as they came to terms with losing a game in which they had played some of their best hockey and dominated for long periods. Credit, however, had be given to the home team, who dug in and took their chances, notably on the break, long before the controversial ending.
Goalscorer: Jake Connolly, Matthew Grey, Tom Haran, Chris Baker
PENARTH ‘A’ 3-1 Gwent
The 2nd XI hosted Gwent with both teams having taken six points from their first three games in De Cymru & The Marches 2, so the match-up at Stanwell was always likely to be a close encounter.
Both teams started well, moving the ball with confidence and playing flowing hockey, but it was Penarth who eventually gained the ascendancy and started to exert more pressure on the Gwent D. A flurry of penalty corners midway through the half saw Penarth really begin to test the Gwent defence, but the hosts were unable to capitalise on their momentum, with Liam Murphy coming closest to scoring as his shot went inches wide.
Murphy was instrumental in the eventual breakthrough, however, winning a turnover on the halfway line before firing an early pass to Sam Chick, unmarked at the top of the D. The striker then used the time and space to pull off an audacious lob to give the hosts the lead and, as the free-flowing game continued, it was only some lacklustre finishing from the Penarth front line – and some outstanding goalkeeping from Adam Putt at the other end – that kept the half-time score at 1-0.
The interval came at a good time for the Bears, who had begun to lose their shape but were able to regroup at the break before starting the second half as they had the first. This time, it didn’t take long for the home side to extend their lead, Sam Docherty using the aerial ball to great effect by finding Chick in space down the right wing. Again with time, Chick was able to fire a ball into the D which Dave Joyce collected before turning his marker and firing in on the reverse side.
The hosts added a third shortly after, finally converting a penalty corner as a well-worked routine saw James Broad’s deflection past the Gwent ‘keeper cleared off the line, only to fall nicely for Chick to tap home for his second of the game.
At 3-0, however, the Bears became guilty of losing concentration, and that allowed the game to become a scrappy encounter, the turnover of possession easily leading to frustration throughout the team. The final 20 minutes belonged entirely to Gwent, but the Penarth back-line defended resolutely, with Docherty and Dave Stevens making some crucial interceptions to break down the visitors’ counter attacks. Putt was again called into action, making further impressive saves, and, when the ‘keeper was finally beaten, Andy Strong was on hand to make a goal-line clearance.
Gwent did eventually grab a consolation goal five minutes from time, although Docherty almost pulled off another last-ditch clearance, his effort deflecting the goal-bound shot into the top corner. Despite conceding, Penarth held on for a 3-1 victory, but now face another difficult encounter on the road at Stroud who, like the Bears, have won three of their opening four games and sit above the Vale side on goal difference ahead of their second versus third encounter.
Goalscorers: Sam Chick (2), David Joyce
Bridgend ‘B’ 2-5 PENARTH ‘B’
The Thirds headed into their mid-table clash with old rivals Bridgend looking to bounce back from two heavy, if largely undeserved, defeats, but expected another feisty encounter with a team that the Bears ‘relegated’ on the final day of the 2017-18 campaign.
Like day one opponents Llanishen & Caerphilly, Bridged earned a reprieve in the summer’s league restructure and went into the weekend level on points with Penarth despite having played two fewer games in this year’s interim table. Having found themselves with a dearth of experienced goalkeepers when it came to selection, the Bears were slightly relieved to find several familiar faces absent from the Bridgend line-up, but nevertheless steeled themselves for a busy defensive afternoon.
The opening exchanges, however, could not have been further from that, with the visitors dominating possession and keeping the ball in their opponents half for the majority of the time. With the pressure applied, it only took a couple of moments of sparkling teamwork for Penarth to gain a handy two-goal advantage, with newcomer Jack Daly twice on hand to apply the finishing touch to build-up play involving Tom Griffiths, Lewis Ingram and Matthew Birch.
Bridgend steadied their ship as the half went on, and Penarth were grateful to returning skipper James Davies and goalkeeper Kav Kalsi Lucas for snuffing out the threat that arose from a greater share of possession. The home side were still playing very much on the break, however, and Penarth gained a vital boost shortly before the interval when Ingram finished off another good build-up to make it 3-0.
Having witnessed a second-half fightback in the game immediately preceding their own, the Bears were keen not to fall into the same trap following the restart, but were unable to add to their own tally before a poor clearance gifted Bridgend a lifeline with plenty of time on the clock. Instead of losing confidence, however, the Vale side continued to press forward, making the most of the youth in their line-up to switch play quickly to the Bridgend half. Right-half Elys Johnson was particularly impressive in both attack and defence, linking up with the dangerous Ingram to provide a constant threat down their flank. On the opposite side, Griffiths and Morgan Salisbury posed similar questions for the home defence, but it took a moment of individual brilliance from Griffiths to restore the three-goal advantage and calm any nerves Penarth may have had.
Bridgend refused to concede and won a controversial penalty stroke shortly after going 4-1 down, but Kalsi Lucas’ saved and the writing was on the wall for the home side. Although both teams scored again before the final whistle, with Birch nabbing a well-earned reward for his efforts up front, there was no time for Bridgend to close the gap, allowing Penarth to return to winning ways and cement themselves in third spot in De Cymru 2 ahead of a bye week brought on by the division’s seven-team structure.
Goalscorer: Jack Daly (2), Lewis Ingram, Tom Griffiths, Matthew Birch
PENARTH ‘C’ 4-0 Bridgend ‘C’
The 4th XI also faced Bridgend as they attempted to keep hold of top spot in De Cymru 3, and the final score flattered the hosts somewhat after an end-to-end game. The apparent dominance was largely due to another stunning performance by young goalkeeper Jamie Lawrence, while youth also came good at the other end courtesy of a great opportunistic goal by young debutant Gabe Lilford. Richard Clarkson, Dave Watkins and Joe Ramage added the remaining goals, the latter finishing off a fine passing move involving brother Tom, who produced a dominant performance on the left flank.
Goalscorers: Gabe Lilford, Richard Clarkson, Dave Watkins, Joe Ramage
Whitchurch ‘F’ 0-1 PENARTH ‘D’
The Fifths lifted themselves off the bottom of De Cymru 3 with an historic first victory, coming out on top in a tight game thanks to a fine finish from Tom Lumsden following superb build-up play from Asa Cleaver. Zayn Zamam put in dominant display in midfield, while there was a promising first game from Raheem Mohamed. It should also be noted that there was a game effort – without reward – from oldest and slowest strike force ever fielded by a Penarth side as Dan Lindfield and David Thomas toiled on behalf of club’s newest team.
Goalscorer: Tom Lumsden
After four weeks with all five teams in action, Penarth will have plenty of players kicking their heels this weekend, with just the 1st and 2nd XIs in action. The senior team return to Stanwell to take on second-placed Cheltenham (1.45pm start), while the Seconds travel to a similarly-position Stroud side (1.30pm start).
Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. Training takes place at Stanwell on Wednesdays, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7.00pm and 8.15pm.
Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.