Hockey: Share-all opener suits the Tangerines (From York Press)

Hockey: Share-all opener suits the Tangerines

10:52am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport

Acomb Hockey Club men’s firsts opened their Yorkshire League division four campaign sharing the spoils at Rotherham.

With Baz Whitfield and Simon Theaker in defence, the Tangerines kept the home side at bay for the whole of a first half which saw little goalmouth action.

The longer ball game of Rotherham started to impose more difficulties as they forced several penalty corners which came to nothing.

When they broke through, Craig Brown excelled in goal.

Midway through the second half with Paul Wicker, debutant Carl Brindley and Matt Dickenson taking control of midfield, the latter hit a penalty corner flick against a post.

The hosts then broke the deadlock with five minutes to go from a soft penalty corner strike.

But with the final whistle a mere 30 seconds away, Acomb equalised when a lofted ball was controlled by Forster who found man of the match Harry Ellis to easily force the ball in.

Newly-promoted Acomb seconds fell 2-0 to a strong Huddersfield Dragons IV line-up in division six.

After weathering early pressure, Acomb started to play the ball around, only for the Dragons to strike first under the new own goal rule when the ball ricocheted off the stick of an Acomb defender and into the net.

Acomb goalkeeper Martin Grainge finished the first half with several sparkling saves to keep the Tangerines in the hunt.

Moved from centre-back to attacking midfield, Paul Kellet linked well with midfield teammate Dave Timmins to create a number of chances for the Tangerines for whom Dave Bird also excelled on his debut.

But Huddersfield soaked up the pressure and in a counter-attack doubled their advantage from a short corner.

Although not the result the Acomb team wanted there were positives to be taken from their first foray in the division. Kellet, Timmins and Bird shared the man of the match vote.