Cup Finals day at Highfields produced two matches, which whilst not classics, were nevertheless intriguing encounters.
Old hands Reading, with six Cup Final wins behind them were pitted against the holders, Beeston, in the men’s final. In an evenly matched game, Reading took a 15th minute lead when Richard Mantell slammed a penalty corner passed George Pinner in the Beeston net. The single goal was all that showed on the scoreboard for the next 42 minutes until Beeston had the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. Chris Seddon stepped up and made no mistake.
With another final to play and England Hockey’s ‘Big Night Out’ awards dinner due to start at 8 pm that evening, there was some nervous glances at watches as the clocked ticked down to the final hooter with the score stuck on 1-1. But two goals in less than sixty seconds, the first from Warren D’Souza and the second from Jon Codling (initially wrongly attributed to Rhys Joyce) gave Reading a 3-1 lead and that is how the scores remained at full time.
It would be wrong to suggest that Reading have had a bad season – far from it – but taking the Cup is a worthy reward for a side that have been so near, but just not near enough during the 2008-2009 season.
Reading were hoping to create a first, that of being the first club to lift both the men’s and women’s Cups in the same season. Up against the League Champions, Bowdon Hightown, Reading seemed to have an uphill task. But under the tutorship of Rhys Joyce, the Berkshire side seemed more than a match for their illustrious opponents. Indeed, when the first goal came it was in controversial circumstances. A shot from Bowdon’s Fay Nash found the back of the net in the 15th minute and initially there seemed to be a muted response from both teams. Umpire Barker signalled for a goal and her colleague gave a thumbs-up sign to confirm, but a large section of Reading supporters sitting behind me were claiming that the ball had not been struck in the ‘D’, although in fairness the Reading team seemed to accept the decision.
Reading certainly never looked outclassed and had some enterprising efforts in front of goal. Eventually their reward came in three minutes into the second half when Becky Odlin found the net from a penalty corner. Again there was some nervous checking of watches as the seconds ticked away, but it only took four minutes for the League Champions to reply. A cross from Julie Bishop was neatly parried by Jo Ellis passed Lucy Stevenson in the Reading goal to give Bowdon the win. Final score 2-1.
A report of the England Hockey’s ‘Big Night Out’ will appear on this blog later. Photographs from the finals will appear on our main web site (www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk) tomorrow (Monday).
