1st Team Vs Duchy

North Devon HC 1st team made the long journey last weekend to Redruth to face Duchy HC.  Unfortunately they did not return with any points, losing out in a close encounter 3-4.

In very wet and windy conditions, both teams struggled to play decent hockey in the early stages.  North Devon scored first in a fluctuating game, Joe Taylor-Richards pouncing on a loose ball to punish Duchy.

Duchy then pressed forward, stretching the North Devon defence, a couple of missed tackles saw them equalise with a scrappy finish.  They then doubled their advantage, the hard working forwards stretching North Devon, a long ball saw a one and one, Sam Wormington stopping the first effort but the rebound was put in.

Guy Cockcroft had some good chances but the Duchy goal-keeper was in excellent form, denying everything that Cockcroft threw at him.

2-1 to the home side a half time, a shuffle by captain Phil Brand saw Ben Cox move into Midfield with Roger Casper going in at left back.  Cox created some early second half chances, his hard running earning him the man of the match award.

The Devon team got themselves back into the game after a powerful Cockcroft cross was deflected beautifully past a stranded keeper by Ash Thorne.  Cockcroft then maintained his own goal scoring record, robbing the Duchy centre back on the base line and firing past the goal keeper on his reverse side to take the lead.

Duchy had to go for it and did, a missed aerial saw a two on two break, the opposition forward rounding Sam Wormington to equalise.  They then re-took the lead after a penalty corner was awarded, a deflection at the far post was put in.

North Devon promptly won their own corner at the other end, Cockcroft’s shot was stopped by the defenders knee on the line, North felt a penalty stroke should have been awarded but the umpires ruled that the shot had been too high.

A disappointing result in the circumstances but a lot of positives in the performance.  North Devon lie 9th in the league but will hope to improve their position next weekend, hosting bottom side Taunton Vale 2nd team.