HBU National Division 1 start on the right road
HBU ND1 Report Sunday 9TH October
In addition to the Premier League team, HBU have also entered a side in National Division 1. The first tournament of the year took place in Soham where a new look UTD team would face Ely, Maidstone and Sheffield.
This was the first time that this UTD team had played together with only a handful of training sessions as preparation and the squad a mixture of youth and experience.
The tournament started with the home team Ely expected to prove tricky opposition and this was to be the case with UTD finding themselves a goal down in the first minute of the game thanks to a deflected own goal. UTD equalised only to go behind again with the score at half time 2-2. In the second half Ely had 2 penalties saved and UTD one, with three minutes remaining UTD were trailing by one goal when they finally converted one of their many chances to equalise. As the clocked ticked down UTD were awarded a second penalty and with only 20 seconds left in the game UTD led for the first time. Final score Ely 3- HBU 4. Barton scoring UTDs opening two goals and McVey the latter two.
After a frantic first game, UTD settled down to play some structured hockey in an entertaining game and found themselves 2-1 up at halftime against a strong Maidstone team. Visibly tiring in the second half UTD held on for a 2-2 draw, UTDs scorers were Barton and Zacharia.
The final game saw UTD against Sheffield, a team until recently that competed in the Premier League. UTD opened the scoring early in the game only to concede less than a minute later! UTD continued to create chances and by half time were 6-3 up with goals from Barton, Zacharia and three from Holmes.
The second half continued in the same way with UTD creating chances and leaving gaps at the back, scoring another 7 goals and conceding four. UTDs second half scorers were Holness, Holmes, Mcvey, Barton.
HBU play again next month and will look to continue without defeat. Sunday saw some good individual performances, a good foundation for the improvements in team play required.
Team: Garrett Priestley, Eddie Mount (GKs), George Holmes (4 ), Stavros Zacharia (2), Ashley Barton (7), Jamie Corris, Matt Holness (2), Chris Johnson, Paul McVey (4)
