Forrest hat-trick earns a point for struggling Lisnagarvey

Lisnagarvey lost more ground in the Premier League race at Cookstown last Saturday.
Garvey are already playing catch-up to Banbridge in the Ulster Premier League after failing to win either of their opening two matches. Pictures: Rowland White / PessEyeGarvey are already playing catch-up to Banbridge in the Ulster Premier League after failing to win either of their opening two matches. Pictures: Rowland White / PessEye
Garvey are already playing catch-up to Banbridge in the Ulster Premier League after failing to win either of their opening two matches. Pictures: Rowland White / PessEye

They could only manage a 3-3 draw in a match which they had all the early possession but found themselves having to scrap for a point in the final minutes.

Garvey began strongly taking the game immediately to their opponents and with their first serious raid, Andy Forrest shot over the crossbar after a Jason Lynch effort was blocked when well placed.

Creating wave after wave of attacks on the Cookstown circle, Peter MacDonnell also shot over the bar and Ian Hughes made a good save from Andy Williamson in the 12th minute.

Andy Forrest who netted a hat-trick in Saturdays frustrating 3-3 draw.Andy Forrest who netted a hat-trick in Saturdays frustrating 3-3 draw.
Andy Forrest who netted a hat-trick in Saturdays frustrating 3-3 draw.

Garvey’s first penalty corner came in the 18th minute but Timmy Cockram’s drag flick was brilliantly saved at full length by Hughes with his stick as the visitors could not capitalise on their superior possession.

After an open chance had been missed by Garvey, at last in the 30th minute a pass from Peter MacDonnell was struck firmly into the net by Andy Forrest to give Garvey a well deserved lead.

However, Cookstown immediately caught Garvey on the break and seconds after the opening goal, they had equalised. The ball was hammered into the Garvey circle and John Ames luckily deflected the ball past the wrong footed John Tormey in the Garvey goal.

Andy Forrest, in fine form so far this season, deflected a chance past the post in the 38th minute but a minute later he was on hand to score after great work by Sean Murray on the right flank.

Andy Williamson shot past the post in the 43rd minute and two minutes later Garvey’s second penalty corner was well saved by Hughes, low to his right.

Again, Cookstown caught Garvey with a sucker punch. Following the Garvey corner, they broke upfield and after Tormey had made a fine save from Ames, Andrew Smyth was in the right place to score another equaliser in the 39th minute.

Jason Lynch had a reverse stick shot saved by Hughes and John Tormey replied with a save from Ames in the 47th minute before Jonny Bell forced Garvey’s third penalty corner but again it went unrewarded.

Cookstown had a stroke of luck in the 60th minute when a shot at goal was deflected into his own net by Mark Robinson on the day he made his return to senior hockey after a break of four years.

With just minutes left to grab a point after dominating much of the 70 minutes, Garvey pushed forward and were rewarded with an equalising goal in the 65th minute when after a Timmy Cockram shot, Forrest was on hand to slot the ball home and complete a fine hat-trick.

Garvey had one last chance to snatch the game in the last minute when they forced their fourth penalty corner but with time already up, Timmy Cockram’s drag flick was blocked by Ian Hughes and the topsy-turvey match ended in a 3-3 draw.

With Banbridge winning by a massive margin against Harlequins, Garvey are now slipping well behind the pace even at this early stage.

They will have a chance to redeem themselves at Shaws Bridge next Saturday when they play Instonians. The home side are at present sharing top spot with Banbridge with two wins out of two and Garvey will have to tighten up their defence if they are to claim the now crucial points against a team who are difficult to beat on their own ground. The match is at 2.30pm.

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