HA Vase Semi-Final 1st April 2007
Neston SW 2-3 Andover
Neston South Wirral suffered their second
golden goal defeat in as many weeks as they lost out 3-2 to Andover in the semi-final of the England Hockey Vase.
Neston can be proud of their efforts after
dominating the game but were punished for only converting one of their twenty penalty corners. Neston took the game
to the Hampshire side from the first whistle, but found themselves a goal down on 9 minutes when Andover's first attack resulted
in the unmarked striker flicking high into the net. With Neston controlling the midfield exchanges, the visiting defence remained
under intense pressure, until finally Steve Kelso fired a corner under the prone keeper two minutes before the interval to
bring Neston level.
With confidence high, Neston came flying
out of the blocks and it was no more than they deserved when Chris Sullivan's calm finish put them ahead. Ford-Jones, McNeight
and Coppack all went close as Andover's keeper worked overtime, but the visitors snatched an equaliser nine minutes from time
when Tom Cole exposed hesitancy in the Neston corner defence to bundle home from their only penalty corner. Neston again had
opportunities to win the game late on but lacked composure in front of goal.
In extra time, Neston squandered three more
set play situations, before Andover stunned the Parkgate men when they broke away and saw Mark Josling tap home
a simple winner.
Big thanks
to everyone who made the effort to get down yesterday. It was good to see a healthy crowd, just sorry we couldn't quite get
over the line. Roll on next season....
Ironically
Andover went on to win The Final in a Penalty Shoot out.
