Valley Anger after a slow start outclassed Shaheen 4-2. After conceding early possession the Anger defence of Smithers, Duffy, Oli and Das Boot absorbed the pressure from Shaheen until the Valley midfield started to find its feet and control the ball. Valley opened the scoring with Retard taking full advantage of a Penalty Corner which he neatly tucked into the left side of the goal catching the Shaheen keeper, who at times appeared scared of the ball, on his heels.
Shaheen struck back shortly afterwards, Valley’s first defensive lapse of the game allowing a one on one with Picko. Das Boot did well to get back into the goal behind Picko, but the shot went in all the same.
Score at halftime was 1-1, but Valley could have been well up.
The second half didn’t start well with Anger forcing passes forward leading to turnovers in the middle of the pitch. One such turnover led to Anger conceding a penalty stroke, for an offence the umpire could not see, explain or understand… a continuation on much of the first half. Picko made an outstanding attempt and got a large piece of the ball from the spot, changing the path, but not quite enough.
The goal sparked Anger to life and Crispy was the star. With 20 minutes remaining in the match Valley ran away with the game. The equalising goal came through the Kiwis, Kakes linked up with Jezza on a lead across the field, who on entering the circle, hit a reverse stick cross to Crispy on the right post for a brilliant deflection goal.
Anger continued to press forward and won a second penalty corner, completed with a slick and polished set piece enabling Retard to put the ball outside the right post for Crispy to deflect home again for his second of the match. With 10 minutes to go, Valley applied the pressure again with Crispy finding Jezza overlapping pushing to the backline, Jezza moved into the circle and squeezed a shot at goal, Crispy found a deflection yet again only to hit the post before re-gathering the ball and putting it in
the back of the net to complete his hat-trick.
A good win to start the season.