Anger 2 - 3 HKCC

The late afternoon fixture on Sunday saw Anger up against HKCC. The Anger team came into the match looking to turn the tables on the result from earlier in the season, having lost 3-0.

The 1st quarter saw Anger make a promising start, with Anson and the defensive line retaining a large amount of possession, while Satchi looked to challenge HKCC with overheads and utilise the speed of the outside forwards. However Anger were lacking the final touch to break through the last of HKCC's defence and get the final shot on goal. The best chance would come midway through the 1st quarter with Chris overlapping on the right into the D, but the resultant shot would go wide. The final 3 minutes would see HKCC start converting its possession in the midfield into attacking opportunities. While Anger were locked in their defensive 25, a crowded D and committed defence meant that there were no clear opportunities for HKCC. The teams would therefore go into the 1/4 time break tied at 0-0.

Anger started the 2nd quarter looking to push their advantages and make the most of their possession, while HKCC were intent on trying to build on their work from the end of the 1st quarter. Both teams were looking dangerous when breaking through the midfield, but the final pass in the D was proving elusive. After a ball across the top of the circle hit an Anger foot, HKCC would get their first short corner halfway through the quarter. A low flick into the bottom left corner would put HKCC up 1-0. HKCC were finding more time in the D in the following minutes and would have another shot hit the crossbar. Anger were still looking dangerous up forward with Dan and Jason getting multiple touches, but that final finish into the net was still proving elusive. With no further goals, the teams would go into half-time with HKCC up 1-0.

Anger knew that it would need a big second half and continued to attack down the wings and utilise the pace of Jason, Cedric, Dan and Simon. This persistence finally paid off when an attack down the right hand side resulted in a bobbling ball across the D falling to Chris, who for the second week in a row finished with a reverse stick shot, leveling the game at 1-1. HKCC were looking to push their advantages and would obtain a pair of short corners in quick succession. The first of these would see the flick go wide left, but the follow-up a couple of minutes later would be dispatched into the bottom right hand corner, restoring HKCC's lead at 2-1. The score would remain this way as the teams entered into the three-quarter time break.

Anger started the 4th quarter knowing that it would have to chase the game if it was to come away with any points, which meant that the game started to see more end to end hockey. Waqas would have plenty of possession just outside the D, but there was still no equalising goal. As Anger pushed forward it would receive a couple of short corners, but HKCC held firm. The push forward resulted in increased space in the midfield and after a run down the right hand side and cross into the D, the ball would fall to a HKCC player next to the penalty spot and would be duly sent into the goal, giving HKCC a 3-1 lead. Anger continued to press forward and was rewarded with another short corner, but still no change to the score. The game was set for a frantic finish when an infringement on Cedric as he attempted a shot on goal resulted in Valley being awarded a penalty stroke. Satchi would send the stroke into the top corner taking the game to 3-2 with a minute left on the clock. HKCC would retain possession from the re-start with Anger recovering the ball just in time to hear the final whistle.

The game would end 3-2 in favour of HKCC with both teams having worked hard for 4 quarters. Player of the game for Anger was Mat B for his defensive midfield role during the match.  

Up next: Anger will look to put the result behind them as they take on KCC B.