Photo: Beeston captain Stephen Lawrence with the EHB Challenge Trophy. The presentation had to be held indoors due to torrential rain. (Image: HockeyImages.co.uk).The patient may have been exposed to the elements and had very few visitors but they are still alive – just!
Miserable weather, competition from the FA Cup and general lethargy about this once-important competition, kept the crowds away from the EHB Cup Finals at Cannock yesterday. The men's Cup Final between Beeston and Cannock could be described as a very 'Northern' affair, with some very robust play and it is probably remarkable that visitors to the naughty seat numbered only three.
Doncaster tried the opening tactic we had seen Beeston use against HGC a couple of weeks ago in the KO16 – very aggressive hockey in an attempt to get around the defence. But Beeston's classed show through and, although they had only an Andrew Monte goal to show to their credit by half time, Beeston started to notch up the goals in the second half.
What had started as a not particularly inspiring match, went up a notch in the second half, with some quality goals and some quality goalkeeping from both sides. Despite coming from division below Beeston, Doncaster showed flashes of class which belied their lower status.
In his presentation speech after the match, EHB President congratulated Beeston and Doncaster for their contribution to keeping the Cup alive. Amen to that. Beeston retain the cup they first won in 2008, to add to their League Championship Cup.
The weather was kinder for the earlier women's final between Surbiton and Bowdon Hightown. Tina Cullen may no longer be the league's top scorer, but she was in form for this match with a goal in each half, with Sally Walton providing the other two in Hightown's 4-1 win. Ironically it was Surbiton's Abi Robinson's 55th minute consolation goal that provided us with the goal of the match.
Images from both matches will appear at www.HockeyImages.co.uk soon.
Doncaster | (0) | 2 | - | 6 | (1) | Beeston |
Joe Morrison - 39 (PC) Jonathan Redfern - 59 (PC) | Andrew Monte - 8 37 (PC, PC) Chris Gregg - 46 (F) Ben Arnold - 57 (PC) Martin Jones - 64 (F) David Ames - 70 (F) |
Surbiton | (0) | 1 | - | 4 | (1) | Bowdon Hightown |
Abi Robinson - 55 (F) | Tina Cullen - 13 49 (F, PC) Sally Walton - 53 55 (F, F) |
