Feast of attacking hockey at South Antrim

RATHGAR CHIEFS 3

LAST Saturday witnessed yet another feast of attacking hockey at Laurelhill Sports Zone as South Antrim hosted their Southern friends, Rathgar Chiefs, in the 2nd round of the Irish Trophy. Coincidentally the two teams played each other at the same stage of the competition last season, a game which South won 6-1. However, there was to be no such similar success this year for John Massey’s depleted side.

Whilst Rathgar started the game in the ascendency, it was the hosts who looked the more likely to sneak ahead. An Adam Glass drag flick ricocheted off the upright with 15 minutes gone and a Ward Phillips reverse stick cross was unlucky not to find anyone at the back post.

However, the Lisburn side did break the deadlock soon after. A slick short corner routine involving John Semple was deflected home, high into the net, by Adam Glass. Despite falling behind, Rathgar continued to dominate the half’s proceedings with copious amounts of possession. The resoluteness of the South Antrim back line, however, kept the visitor’s chances to a minimum. The Rathgar pressure began to tell towards the end of the half with a multitude of short corners being cheaply given away by the hosts and it was through one of these that drew the Southerners level. Having dealt competently with the first phase of the short corner, South were unlucky to watch the rebound hit Adam Glass on the goal line and hence a penalty stroke was awarded. This was duly converted and the teams went in at half time all square at one goal apiece.

The second half saw a vast improvement from South in terms of their general play. A tactical switch by Coach John Massey to 4-4-2 seemed to pay dividends with Ward Phillips and Lee Marshall combining superbly in the centre of the park to stamp their authority on the game. It didn’t take long at all for the Lisburn-ites to take the lead again, through a fast flowing counter attacking move which has typified South in recent years. A superbly timed tackle from Adam Glass followed by a pin point 60 yard cross field pass to John Semple turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye. After penetrating the circle, and with the advancing keeper closing down on him, Semple played a delicate reverse stick pass to Ward Phillips who converted the easiest of chances to put the hosts 2-1 up.

But if ever there was a sporting arena for dramatic finales, Laurelhill has certainly proved itself to be the one. With less than 5 minutes remaining Rathgar won themselves a short corner after a South Antrim defender dangerously raised the ball inside the ‘D’. The following short corner was far from pretty, but that wouldn’t have bothered Rathgar who managed to somehow stick the ball in the back of the net to level the game at 2-2, much to the despair of the hosts. Thus the game had to be decided in extra time. Rathgar, to their credit, came out of the blocks all guns blazing and managed to poke their noses in front after 3 minutes, a deficit which the South young guns were unable to recover from. South now look forward to a return to league action this weekend with a trip away to league leaders, Raphoe.

Thanks, as always, to sponsors - Ed’s Bar & Grill and Phillips Volkswagen.