Men’s County Squad Win Promotion
Match reports from the County’s Promotion winning weekend. It saw them promoted to the B division as champions for the first time in 20 years.
Northamptonshire V RAF
A bright day in Sheffield saw Northamptonshire start strongly against the RAF pressurising them down the right wing. However the Northamptonshire forwards had left their shooting boots at home and continuously misfired until captain Joe Colontonio played a ball to Joe Kopka for him to slot home leaving Northants 1-0 up at halftime.
The second half saw more pressure from Northants but they were caught napping and the RAF scored a deflected short corner quickly followed by a breakaway goal to leave Northants trailing 1-2 with 15 minutes to go. This was until Gareth Parker on the 10 minute mark ghost in at the back post to level the scores. With no more goals the game went to penalty strokes.
Martyn Cory buried his first stroke and a flying save to his left saw Madeley save from the RAF. Jamie Webb then slotted his stroke home and the RAF sent theirs wide, 2-0. Sadly the RAF levelled as both Grant Carlin and Ben Stephenson saw their strokes saved by the RAF keeper, 2-2. Both Stuart Clark and the RAF scored to send the strokes to sudden death. Up stepped Cory again to smash his stroke home to give Northamptonshire the advantage. Madeley then dived to his right to save the RAF stroke and send Northants into the final against Nottingham.
Northamptonshire V Nottinghamshire
Northamptonshire started the final brightly and after some Nottinghamshire pressure Stuart Clark crossed from the right wing for Martyn Cory to slot home 1-0 Northants. Cory was then involved again after picking up the ball on the 22 from Kopka he slapped it to the penalty spot for Brett Holland to guide it home and send Northamptonshire into half time 2-0 up.
The second half saw a slower start from Northants and Nottinghamshire seized the opportunity to attack. From the top of the D the ball was slipped right beating Ian Cooper for it to be crossed back across the goal to be poked home past the diving Madeley. Northants rallied and upped the pressure on Nottinghamshire allowing young keeper Ed Holt to replace Madeley in the Northants goal. Holt almost immediately showed why he was selected by pulling off a couple of smart saves. However a lapse in concentration by the Northants defence allowed Nottinghamshire to equalise leaving it 2-2 at full time and stokes AGAIN!!!
The 5 stroke takers were chosen along with the hero of the semi final Madeley taking his place in the goal again. Both Cory and Webb scored their strokes and Madeley was beaten twice by Nottinghamshire 2-2. Holland then saw the keeper save his stroke giving Nottinghamshire the advantage, an advantage they failed to take as their next player put the ball over the bar and into orbit. Then Clarke scored and so did Notts 3-3. Parker stepped up to lash his flick home then the Notts number 10 stepped up. He sent a hard ball to Madeley’s right only to see Madeley make himself into a hero once again by diving low to the right and saving it with his stick ensuring Northamptonshires promotion to the B division as champions for the first time in 20 years.
The whole squad would like to express their gratitude to Moulton College and Northampton Hockey club for their support and use of training facilities.
Squad from left to right: Back Row – Grant Carlin, Adam Croutear, Gavin Markham, Gareth Parker, Joe Kopka, Martyn Cory, Ben Stephenson, Brett Holland, Ed Holt. Front Row – Stephan Williams, Ian Cooper, Paul Madeley, Joe Colantonio, Jamie Webb, Stuart Clark.