Great win for Beacon-sponsored hockey team

Isle of Wight 2nd XI 6 Camberley & Farnborough 1

What a difference a year makes. After losing their first three league games last season, and only winning one from their first nine, the Island's second team – sponsored by the Isle of Wight Beacon – looked a completely different side on Saturday. Although traditionally they do well against their opponents, the performance did much to give the Island hope they can look for a high finish in the table this year, after last season’s lowly position. To C & F's credit, the visitors started like a house on fire, and were camped in the Island's half for the first ten minutes. After absorbing the pressure, the Island began to find their feet, and forced a few attacks, and after a goalmouth scramble, last season's top scorer BUTLER put the home side ahead. However, the forward then blotted his copybook after he reacted to an awful challenge soon after by shoving the offender over. Both men were sin-binned for fifteen minutes, with Butler perhaps lucky the card was not a red one. With both sides down to ten men, the game opened up and new skipper BALL soon put daylight between the sides when he capped a fine solo run by flicking home. Butler then returned to the field and on the stroke of half time, he powered home a short corner to give the Island a 3-0 lead.

It was the second half though that gave the Island the most encouragement which would see three more goals scored, all via team moves. The first came soon after the whistle when BUTT was put through and swept past the on-rushing keeper. Five minutes later came the goal of the game when the ball was moved from defence to attack with quick passes, and BUTT fed a defence splitting pass behind C & F's backline, for AUSTIN to get a touch and divert it into the net. The 6th goal followed ten minutes from time, when BUTT stroked home from a pin-point cross which left the defence foxed. Camberley though never gave up and they were rewarded five minutes from time when a shot from a short corner found the goal.

No player can be faulted for the Island with everyone playing brilliantly. Camberley were dominated in this game and the performance will give the club hope that last season's lowly finish will soon be a distant memory. This weekend (Saturday) will be much tougher as the Island go to Michlemersh & Timsbury, a side that finished third last year.

For more details check out www.iowhockey.co.uk