The St Andrew’s College first hockey side had a hard-fought win against a skilful and nippy Alexander Road.
The St Andrew’s College first hockey side had a hard-fought win against a skilful and nippy Alexander Road.
After some cheap turnovers in the early, nervous stages of the match, the 'Four Square' midfield of Peter Jarvis and Luke Hobson took advantage of the space allowed them by the opposition to mount a series of attacks and keep the Alex side in their half.
Despite this territorial advantage, the side could not convert, and the rare circle entries amounted to nothing.
The side kept their composure, however, and kept the width.
Vuyo Ketwa received a pass unmarked and beat the keeper with a clever lifted shot which hit the defender on the line, resulting in Luke Hobson scoring from a penalty stroke.
Another composed attack moments later gave Ross Vides an opportunity to score from close range.
The St Andrew’s side entered the break in a deserved 2-0 lead.
Alex then scored a cleverly deflected goal, and kept the pressure on the St Andrew’s midfield and defence.
St Andrew’s could not convert a series of penalty corners, but regained both composure and territorial possession.
James Marriner and Peter Jarvis gave the team width on the right, and the defensive work by the strikers enabled the side to keep Alex under pressure.
Some tense moments in defence were experienced as Alex looked for a counter-attack with a high-hanging striker.
Zukisa Biyana and Dan Scholtz thwarted one such moment, and with less than two minutes to go, William Marx found James Marriner unmarked at the two of the D.
He hammered home a goal to ensure the 3-1 victory to St Andrew’s.
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