Millers keep Wolves at bay
Hailsham Millers welcomed the Worthing Wolves for a 3:30 match on 28 November under the lights and darkening skies. Both teams, who hold 2nd and 4th place in the league, started brightly but didn't quite manage to develop what was good passage of plays into a score. The Wolves centre forward looked menacing and caused problems in the first 10 minutes. A Miller player’s driving run down the right flank and cross from the goal line in the 18th minute was met with a perfectly timed run by Dan ‘tap in’ Ruthven who converted a metre out past the impressive Wolves’ keeper. Minutes later a counter attacking break and solo driving run down the middle by Josh Pinard which he finished with a diving slap finish from the top of the D. At this point the score line wasn't reflective of the ambition of both sides and Worthing rectified this with a good interchange of passes culminating in a score near the half time whistle.
Both teams were very much in a game at the end of 35 minutes and the second half began with the same intensity as the first with attacks from both teams. The Hailsham keeper Jo Gander kept them in the game after a smart save at the feet of a Wolves player and the Millers began to press more and in after a short period Dan Ruthven netted with a replica of his first, ably assisted by Rich Buckingham playing high and wide. Buckingham then scored moments later after a flurry in the Wolves D.
With the Hailsham midfield gaining more control, Worthing was forced back but they defended brilliantly. Louis Whitling added Hailsham’s 5th with a reverse flick from short range, with his back to goal after another breakdown on a Hailsham short corner. Good work on both flanks from joint Players of the Match Charlie Cable and Ollie Whitling allowed Hailsham to maximise their possession and with both involved in the last goal with Kieran Gurr firing a diagonal ball in to the Wolves D only for Ollie Whitling to convert with a smart flick high and wide past the right of the keeper.
The game was played in a very good spirit and the score line wasn’t a true indication of the competitive hockey from both sides. The Millers look forward to their visit to Worthing later in the season for what will be another good natured but competitive game.
Josh Pinard, Year 11
Both teams were very much in a game at the end of 35 minutes and the second half began with the same intensity as the first with attacks from both teams. The Hailsham keeper Jo Gander kept them in the game after a smart save at the feet of a Wolves player and the Millers began to press more and in after a short period Dan Ruthven netted with a replica of his first, ably assisted by Rich Buckingham playing high and wide. Buckingham then scored moments later after a flurry in the Wolves D.
With the Hailsham midfield gaining more control, Worthing was forced back but they defended brilliantly. Louis Whitling added Hailsham’s 5th with a reverse flick from short range, with his back to goal after another breakdown on a Hailsham short corner. Good work on both flanks from joint Players of the Match Charlie Cable and Ollie Whitling allowed Hailsham to maximise their possession and with both involved in the last goal with Kieran Gurr firing a diagonal ball in to the Wolves D only for Ollie Whitling to convert with a smart flick high and wide past the right of the keeper.
The game was played in a very good spirit and the score line wasn’t a true indication of the competitive hockey from both sides. The Millers look forward to their visit to Worthing later in the season for what will be another good natured but competitive game.
Josh Pinard, Year 11