On what was a tension-filled Wednesday evening at Weetwood, Leeds Mens Hockey 2s won an extremely important game against Durham 3s, all the while knowing that defeat would probably, realistically consign them to relegation this year, while their opponents (bottom of the table, just behind Leeds) knew that realistically only a win was good enough for them.
Leeds started confidently, passing the ball with purpose and assurance. Although there were no clear-cut chances in the opening minutes, the spectators who crammed the sidelines and vocally backed Leeds could tell who was the better side, and so redoubled their efforts to get behind their team.
Durham were looking flustered, with one of their defenders persistent complaints earning him a short, sharp reprimand from the referee, who told him exactly where he would go if the backchat continued. It did not, but Leeds’ early pressure did. Eventually the all-important goal arrived with 17 minutes played.
Some pinball around the D led to a Leeds short corner, and when the ball was swept back to the edge of the box there was Tom Berry to stroke a powerful drive into the far corner, beyond the despairing dive of the Durham keeper.
With the score at 1-0 going into the break, what Leeds needed immediately afterwards was a period of calm, composed passing, just to settle everyone down. What they got was a Durham equaliser almost immediately from the restart. A very well-worked move led to a Durham forward being one-on-one with keeper Nicky Thompson, who stood no chance as the ball was knocked casually into the far corner.
1-1 then, and the tension returned. Knowing that a draw did not really help either side that much, both teams pushed forwards in an attempt to win the game and take a giant leap towards safety. They did so of course in the full knowledge that this would inevitably leave gaps in the defence.
It was Uni who exploited one of these gaps first, earning a short corner after some good play on the left hand side. The ball was sent back to the edge of the box and was set up for Will Flett to strike. He hit a thunderous shot which flew into the roof of the net and almost took the latter off its moorings. It truly was an exceptional goal, and coming this late into the game it was hard to escape the feeling that this was the knockout blow Leeds had been searching for.
Captain Gareth Wright made sure his side maintained their shape and discipline after the goal, and set about frustrating Durham in the final minutes. The best way of doing that as it turned out was by going straight back up the other end and scoring another fine goal. After the ball broke to him on the right hand side of the box, George Bucknell made light work of the tight angle by slamming home an unstoppable volley, another brilliant goal and surely enough to make the points safe.
And so it proved. Despite late efforts by the visitors to somehow get back in the game and keep their season alive, the Gryphons kept the ball well in the final few minutes and were rewarded after what seemed like an interminable wait in the cold night air by the sound of the final whistle, which was greeted with jubilation both on the pitch and the sidelines. This result ensured survival for the Gryphons with one match still to play, with a thoroughly deserved 3-1 victory that ultimately saw their opponents relegated.
Image courtesy of luumhc.com
Euan Cunningham