Charterhouse  1                                                Reed’s  2

Charterhouse suffered their first set-back of this Quarter’s hockey season on Saturday 21st January. The visiting Reed’s team were well drilled and skilful and the two sides produced a high quality contest.

Reed’s began as the quicker side and Josh Doble in the Charterhouse goal was soon called into action to make the first in a number of fine saves that he made throughout the afternoon. Reed’s were sharp all over the field, however, and would not allow the Charterhouse team time to settle on the ball, and they took the lead just three minutes into the game when an attacker found himself free on the penalty spot and gave Doble no chance.

This seemed to spur the home team to increase their levels of effort and commitment and Charterhouse certainly took command of the game for the remainder of the first half. First, Tom Gallyer’s sweetly struck short corner was saved by a defender on the goal-line with the ‘keeper beaten; then Tim Downes dispossessed a somewhat sluggish defender, drove into the D and slipped the ball to James Robin who simply could not miss.   

At 1-1, Charterhouse were in the ascendency and hungry to press home their advantage. As they rampaged forward, the ball was stopped on the line by a Reed’s foot, but the umpire made a split-second decision to allow advantage to Downes who had the goal at his mercy. Sadly, his hastily taken shot slid wide and the chance was gone.

After half-time, the gamer became rather more balanced as two evenly-matched teams strove for an opening. Both goalkeepers were on good form, however, and it became more and more apparent to those watching that whoever could score the next goal would be likely to take the match.

So it transpired as Charterhouse conceded a careless free hit in their own 25, which quickly became a short corner as the defence was unable to readjust in time. From the corner, Reed’s produced a slick move and a fierce shot which found its way into the net.

There was still time for Charterhouse to mount a series of attacks on the opposition goal but, despite winning a series of short corners, they could not find an equaliser. Perhaps the visiting goalkeeper’s best save in quite a number was from Charlie Kimmins who scooped the ball goalwards from close range only to be thwarted yet again.

It had been an excellent game between two very good sides. It was played at an electric pace and with no little skill on display. Neither side deserved to lose, but credit to Reed’s for taking their chances when they came along. For Charterhouse there will be other occasions when they play less well and win, but for now they must pick themselves up before visiting the hockey giants of Kingston GS on Wednesday.