Moulton Men’s Hockey Academy 1stXI 1 – 1 University of Northampton

The men’s hockey academy stepped up for their second game of the season against an older, bigger and more experienced UoN side.  Both teams started well, UoN adopted the aerial attack early on but the new defensive pairing of Matt Caton and James Knibb snuffed this route off early. Moulton looked strong and created chances but were unable to find the back of the net an unfortunately it was UoN who went ahead first with a penalty flick competently converted.  Not to let this faze Moulton, the men continued to play to the game plan and finished the half well.

Moulton started the half as they finished, hitting the post from a penalty corner with some great play by Sam Bigely.  The breakthrough finally came a little after following some tireless work from first year David Marroitt to convert from a few yards out. It was all Moulton subsequently with more and more pressure and chances going begging at short corners and in open play, any spectator would have thought it was only a matter of time before the college would score, however it was never to be. Unfortunately some ill discipline led to two players being sin binned in the final stages of the game and even though the University weren’t able to capitalise on this situation, before this the college looked destine to score and earn their first win of the season.  Overall an encouraging performance to take in to the new season.

Moulton Ladies Hockey Academy 1stXI 7 – 1 University of Northampton

The game started slow as both teams sussed each other out. UoN scored first from a lapse in concentration as a 3 on 1 attack led to a shot from 5 yards out, giving Verity Anderton-Johnson in Goal absolutely no chance. This didn’t dampen the spirits of Moulton and after a barrage of chances luck eventually fell the colleges way with Megan Patrick calmly slotted home a slick penalty corner.

It wasn’t long after the restart that it was normal service being resumed.  It was Leah Sanders who put the ladies ahead for the first time in the match with a great hit! Not long after, some skilful play down the right with the ball ending up on the goal line and Laura Wychgel was there to finish it off.  The colleges dominance then went up another gear and 3-1 accelerated to 4 – 1 with Wychgel getting her second from a fantastic counter break after defending a penalty corner. 5 – 1 was an excellent team goal coming from a long corner, the ball was played in to space for Ella Dagnall to engage the defender in a 2 on 1 slipping the ball with precision timing for Megan Patrick to pick the ball up one touch in to the D to unleash a thunderbolt into the bottom left hand corner. The scoring was complete when a well worked team move earned space in the D for Leah Sanders to again shoot for Ella Dagnall to tip in.