WEST HERTS first XI fought out an exciting weekend that ended with brave defeats at the hands of runaway league leaders Peterborough on Saturday, November 3, and National Hockey Association Cup champions Guildford the following day despite taking the lead in both games.
Saturday's Printwize East Premier B game started brightly for West Herts, who were keen to close the gap at the top of the table to within two points.
Sustained possession deprived Peterborough of significant attacking purpose, and West Herts duly went ahead on 12 minutes through Graham Day.
Peterborough duly levelled, but West Herts continued to play some sharp hockey, and when Murray let fly with a reverse stick shot into the top corner, Stags had their reward.
An isolated break in the second half allowed Peterborough to capitalise on a rare defensive error to square the scores once again, before a short corner conversion put Peterborough ahead.
Sunday brought national champions Guildford, containing a host of international stars, to St Clement Danes School, Chorleywood.
A flowing move involving all the forward line left Cormac Hodgkinson with a golden chance to slide the ball in from the right side of the D with aplomb.
Guildford responded within minutes from the first of their very impressive short corners, but West Herts came back in sterling fashion.
Creating their first short corner of the day in the 16th minute, Day found Richard Ambrose in front of the keeper to tuck the ball inside the bottom corner.
Herts held their 2-1 advantage, until punished by the second consecutive of Guildford short corners, but they maintained their committed, and composed, hockey.
However, it was Guidlford who would claim a lead at half time, through the goal-of-the game from England international Adrian Wilkinson, who took the ball at shoulder height at the top of the D before swivelling onto his reverse and thrashing the bouncing ball over a startled Dave Monger and under the West Herts crossbar.
Contesting the start of the second half with the same vigour they had the first, West Herts started to tire as Guildford's fitness began to tell.
The visitors had made it 5-2 midway through the half and as West Herts rotated a squad revelling in the contest against National League opponents, Guildford were able to close out the match, with the final touch of the game, at 9-2.
November 7, 2001 14:26
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