Premier League: HBU Lose double header this weekend but Team show promise for the future!
HBU v Middlesbrough – HB Arena 1 March 2014
Score 4 – 5
Matches against Middlesbrough are always close and are often decided by the odd goal. Since moving from the Pier Pavilion to the Bay Arena, HBU have never recaptured their old form and Middlesbrough have been the better team.
Middlesbrough went into the lead after 3 minutes when a pass was missed by the forward in front of goal only to run to another player allowing a simple far post sweep in. HBU equalised just before the interval through Fabio Vicente.
Ten minutes into the second half, HBU started to try too hard for the ball which allowed Middlesbrough’s Giralt to deliver 2 perfectly positioned shots into the top far corner of Mount’s goal.
5 minutes later life got even more difficult for HBU when a ball was adjudged over the line and given as an own goal against Ed Mount. HBU came back with the right reply after 7 seconds when a slap shot from Barker was delicately steered in by Alex Mount. 3 minutes later, Joe Singleton put away a perfectly executed roll shot which made it 3- 4 and looking promising.
The foul count was now coming into play and HBU had the first direct free-hit but Vicente’s shot hit the cross bar.Middlesbrough then had their direct free-hit and Stewart made it 5. HBU were now going full pelt and Barker’s fire power was rewarded by a goal with 2 minutes remaining on the game. Middlesbrough were now running for the corners and HBU’s efforts to win the ball caused more fouls which resulted in a further free-hit which Mount saved to set up a grandstand ending. But it was not to be and it all got very confusing with the last stoppage with 1.6 seconds remaining and the timekeepers not knowing when play had commenced or stopped. And so it ended.
HBU Team: Ed Mount (GK), Dan Barton (GK), Joe Singleton (Capt), Tom White, Lewis Greenwood, Alex Mount, Simon Hosking, Neil Austin, Brendan Barker, Fabio Vicente
HBU v Kings Lynn – HB Arena 2 March 2014
Score 2 – 3
With half the fire power missing for this match, HBU had to play a cagey game against an energetic and confident young side that always finds a way of finding the net.
The start was exactly not what HBU wanted with Kings Lynn taking the hit, making one pass and a hopeful shot at the HBU goal which goalkeeper Ed Mount padded out comfortably only for the defender’s foot to put it in the net. One down after 7 seconds!
Having played a hard game the previous evening HBU had to conserve energy and stay calm and defensive but the referees were giving them fouls like confetti while nothing was seen the other way. Towards the end of the half, Kings Lynn were awarded a direct free hit which they scored making HBU 2 to 0 down. Simon Hosking made his entrance into the match and scored a one-on-one with one minute left on the half and it was a reasonable 1 – 2 situation at half time with everything to play for.
The match continued in the same vein in the second half with no real chances either way except Kings Lynn taking a direct free-hit when the HBU foul count reached 10 which goalkeeper Mount saved well. After 10 minutes HBU’s frustration showed when a pointless shot put the whole team out of position and allowed Kings Lynn a two man undefended attack on the HBU goal which they scored. 1 – 3 down.
It did not look like HBU were going to get anything from the match and Kings Lynn got a direct free-hit from the team foul count and then another when Joe Singleton got a blue card. Mount in goal was now on top form and saved everything. HBU got back into the match while playing with just 3 men against 4.with a beautifully flighted shot from Hosking.
With 2 minutes to go and the score at 2 – 3, it was game on! The referees were beginning to wake up to the fact that fouls were happening at both ends of the rink but they failed to spot another goal from Hosking when the ball bounced back off a bolt at the back of the goal cage – the reverse situation of the previous evening when a goal was given that it was difficult to see as over the HBU line.
HBU Team: Ed Mount (GK), Luigi Walker (GK), Joe Singleton (Capt), Tom White, Lewis Greenwood, Ashley Barton, Simon Hosking, Neil Austin, David Martindale, Fabio Vicente
HBU President Ron Barker comments “our team is trying to improve its tactics and integrate our schoolboy players. Over these 2 matches our opponents had few scoring chances but we failed to put away our own chances. Both matches could have been draws on the performances on the day. Just a couple of minutes over-playing on Saturday and on Sunday cost us goals. We did not get the decisions but there was a lot of spectacular play and goalkeeping which was a joy for the supporters to see. I have the impression that those that saw think we deserved more out of these matches than we have got!”