Premier League: HBU suffer defeat to Premier League new boys Soham
Roller Hockey National Premier League 10/10/2015
Herne Bay Arena – HBU v Soham 4 – 5
Newly promoted Soham with several players returning from international competition with England started energetically but it was HBU who scored first through Brendan Barker just 2 minutes into the match. Soham equalised 2 minutes later and that set the scene for the match. 4 minutes later HBU took the lead and Soham again equalised almost immediately.
A crazy outburst by a couple of Soham players led to 2 blue cards but HBU did not achieve anything from the resulting power-play. With Soham back to full-strength HBU again took the lead 3 – 2 with 10 minutes of the first half remaining only for indiscipline to concede another equaliser just 3 seconds from half-time.
The 2nd half went the same way with HBU having best part of the possession but unable to find the target. Eventually HBU went 4 – 3 up through Joe Singleton but shortly afterwards a Soham shot took a couple of wicked deflections to sneak inside the far post so all tied up again at 4 – 4.
To end a dismal evening, Soham were awarded a very dubious penalty. Ed Mount saved the shot but the Soham player picked up the loose ball and put it away.
HBU President Ron Barker commented “The players were not committing fouls but the referees were seeing fouls and so our players were feeling very dispirited. Even so, we had most of possession and we were running the match much of the time but we did not capitalise on it. We squandered a power-play and a penalty and overall we lacked commitment, cohesion and substitution options that could make a difference up front. A lot to do before our next match away to England Project team in a couple of weeks time!”.
Team(goals): Ed Mount (GK), Brendan Barker (2), Joe Singleton (1), Jordi Soldana (1), Lewis Greenwood, Josh Branchett, Neil Austin, David Martindale, Nigel Mills.