After a strong performance against Clontarf, Enniscorthy hockey’s 1st men were hoping they could keep their momentum going into their game last Saturday when they took on the young guns of UCD. The men had a home fixture with almost a full squad, only missing centre forward Edmundas Liukimas.
The Dublin side started strong, making it hard for Enniscorthy to settle into the game. With some great talent available for the college side they were quick to cause the home defence of Enniscorthy some issues as they broke down the right side and put some threatening balls into keeper Hill’s circle. The Slaneysiders unsettled start got worse when the home defence stood off a UCD forward, allowing him too much space to get a well struck reverse shot off and passed the out stretched Hill in goal. Enniscorthy were determined to get a hold of the game and right wing Cooke worked his way deep into the visitor’s circle, winning a short corner for his side. The resulting short almost ended in a goal when a ball from Jason Rothwell went narrowly wide as Durnan tried to deflect the ball into to the visitor’s goal. Forwards Maguire, Jowett and Roy Chapman had strong attacks themselves with dangerous balls into the circle but none ended up between the posts. The defence of Ivan Rothwell, Simmons, Vietch and Andrew Rothwell were determined to stop the traveling team from scoring another goal and were putting in strong tackles and making it as hard as possible for the Dubliners. Vietch was in full command of his flank as he cut out a number of dangerous balls. Just before half time Enniscorthy were awarded a short corner that thankfully for Donal Doyle’s side ended up hitting the backboard from a well-struck ball from sweeper Simmons. The half time whistle blew and it was all-square in the Astro Centre, Enniscorthy.
The home side, although having a poor first half were still in the game and well capable of upping their play in search of the win. The midfield trio, for the second half of Medcalf and the Chapman brothers were taking control of the game and forcing UCD back into their half. The home side were growing into the game and the visitors from UCD were beginning to tire. Enniscorthy took full advantage of this and took the lead with 15 minutes to go. With a break down the right wing, forward Jowett found himself with the ball and with some great control took a reverse stick shot which he connected with beautifully to sail the ball high into the top corner of the goal. The Wexford men were playing a much wider game with attacks coming up both wings. The Dublin side although tiring still forced captain Hill into making a number of important saves. A lovely pass down the left side to Durnan who combined with Glenn Chapman and Medcalf resulted in a third goal for Enniscorthy, Medcalf was the scorer on this occasion as he pushed the ball into the left corner of the goal. The fourth and final goal came from Jowett when Jason Rothwell passed him the ball and his sweep shot found the back of the net. The final whistle blew as it finished with a 4-1 win for Enniscorthy.
After a very shaky start Enniscorthy produced the goods and came away with the all-important 3 points in a very closely contested Leinster division 5 league, as before this game there was only 3 points separating the top 5 teams. The next game for the Wexford men will be a cup game against Clontarf in the New Year as they now take a break for Christmas.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; Martyn Vietch; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Cori Cooke; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Niall Maguire; William Durnan; Jason Rothwell. Coach: Donal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
The Dublin side started strong, making it hard for Enniscorthy to settle into the game. With some great talent available for the college side they were quick to cause the home defence of Enniscorthy some issues as they broke down the right side and put some threatening balls into keeper Hill’s circle. The Slaneysiders unsettled start got worse when the home defence stood off a UCD forward, allowing him too much space to get a well struck reverse shot off and passed the out stretched Hill in goal. Enniscorthy were determined to get a hold of the game and right wing Cooke worked his way deep into the visitor’s circle, winning a short corner for his side. The resulting short almost ended in a goal when a ball from Jason Rothwell went narrowly wide as Durnan tried to deflect the ball into to the visitor’s goal. Forwards Maguire, Jowett and Roy Chapman had strong attacks themselves with dangerous balls into the circle but none ended up between the posts. The defence of Ivan Rothwell, Simmons, Vietch and Andrew Rothwell were determined to stop the traveling team from scoring another goal and were putting in strong tackles and making it as hard as possible for the Dubliners. Vietch was in full command of his flank as he cut out a number of dangerous balls. Just before half time Enniscorthy were awarded a short corner that thankfully for Donal Doyle’s side ended up hitting the backboard from a well-struck ball from sweeper Simmons. The half time whistle blew and it was all-square in the Astro Centre, Enniscorthy.
The home side, although having a poor first half were still in the game and well capable of upping their play in search of the win. The midfield trio, for the second half of Medcalf and the Chapman brothers were taking control of the game and forcing UCD back into their half. The home side were growing into the game and the visitors from UCD were beginning to tire. Enniscorthy took full advantage of this and took the lead with 15 minutes to go. With a break down the right wing, forward Jowett found himself with the ball and with some great control took a reverse stick shot which he connected with beautifully to sail the ball high into the top corner of the goal. The Wexford men were playing a much wider game with attacks coming up both wings. The Dublin side although tiring still forced captain Hill into making a number of important saves. A lovely pass down the left side to Durnan who combined with Glenn Chapman and Medcalf resulted in a third goal for Enniscorthy, Medcalf was the scorer on this occasion as he pushed the ball into the left corner of the goal. The fourth and final goal came from Jowett when Jason Rothwell passed him the ball and his sweep shot found the back of the net. The final whistle blew as it finished with a 4-1 win for Enniscorthy.
After a very shaky start Enniscorthy produced the goods and came away with the all-important 3 points in a very closely contested Leinster division 5 league, as before this game there was only 3 points separating the top 5 teams. The next game for the Wexford men will be a cup game against Clontarf in the New Year as they now take a break for Christmas.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; Martyn Vietch; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Cori Cooke; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Niall Maguire; William Durnan; Jason Rothwell. Coach: Donal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
