Sunday, May 28, 2006

Just before the match between Guildford and Cannock, someone was heard to say that there were no bad sides in the men's Premier Division. That was a risky remark made about a team who remain unbeaten pitted against a side who could have been candidates for the play-off zone. Indeed, by half-time it was looking decidedly misplaced. Guildford had their chances - a bobbling mis-hit had given James Fair in the Cannock goal something to think about - but it was Cannock who opened the account when a ball was stopped on the line by a Guildford body and Simon Ramsden stepped up to convert the resulting penalty stroke. A penalty corner strike by Barry Middleton and two field goals by Andy Langlands had given Cannock a four goal lead when they went into the break. The old "game of two halves" cliche came into play in the second half. Both goalkeepers pulled off some stunning saves, but Guildford looked the side that might get the ball into the net. Two brilliantly struck goals by Guildford's Danny Hall made spectators start to wonder what would happen if the match lasted another twenty minutes. Unfortunately for them it didn't. Final score: 4-2 to Cannock. Cannock are now the first team to complete a national league season undefeated. At the other end of the table already relegated Chelmsford made a last ditch attempt to salvage some dignity from the season, going down to to East Grinstead by the astonishing score of 6-5, having been in the lead for much of the game. It would have been their first win this season. Also in the basement area, Canterbury drew 3-3 against Old Loughtonians, and so it is Loughtonians who go into the play-offs.

By an amazing coincidence, in the women's Premier Division, Canterbury were also playing Old Loughtonians, with the same outcome. A 2-2 draw put the Old Loughts women into the play-offs. Clifton, who had an escape route from relation if they beat 8th place Doncaster, got the victory they needed, but Old Lought's one point against Cantgerbury leaves Clifton still in bottom place.