Men’s 1sts suffer first defeat of season
An error strewn performance sees the Men's 1sts slip to their first defeat, going down 5-4 to Wakefield 3rds
Wakefield 3 5 – 4 Halifax 1
Scorers : Graham (2), Bamforth, Sutcliffe
Unfortunately Halifax Men’s 1st X1 were unable to make it 5 straight wins out of 5 with an error strewn performance against a solid well drilled Wakefield team.
The game started brightly with both teams trying to play passing hockey on the new water based pitch at Wakefield. Halifax took the lead after a good move down the right with man of the match Matthew Bairstow sending a lovely pass to Josh Sutcliffe who drove goalwards and ficked the ball home from a tight angle.
The reast of the half saw Wakefield play the better hockey although Halifax created the better chances.
Wakefield equalised with a well practiced short corner and took a 2-1 lead shortly after as Halifax gave away possession too cheaply once again. Just before half time they scored a 3rd as Paul Graham missed a flicked shot and only managed to stop the goal with his leg. Wakefield dispatched the penalty to take a 3-1 lead into the break.
The half time message was to pass better, keep the play simple and show some character.
The team responded with an early goal from matthew graham to get it back to 3-2. Good work down the right by Bairstow enable Jake Bamforth to ghost in at the far post to tap in te equaliser. halifax were in the ascendancy but failed to tack a couple of good chaces and were then caught with a sucker punch on the break from very clinical Wakefield strickers. To rub salt in the wounds, Wakefield again countered well after more Halifax pressure and a complete mis hit shot from the Wakefield right winger somehow found its way passed a bemused metclafe in goal. halifax continued to press forward and dominated possession with Graham keeting his 2nd goal calmling firing into the corner after receiving a good pass from Josh Sutcliffe. Unfortunately they could not find an equaliser and went down 5-4. the team will need to regroup for a Sunday game next week against Leeds University- the passing will need to improve as will the retention of possession if they are to get back to winning ways.