Lindum’s Mixed Team played in a National Competition Finale this weekend at Lee Valley, the centre for hockey in England

This weekend, Lindum Hockey Club sent their mixed team down to the home of hockey, Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre, to take part in the Mixed Finals weekend and returned to Lincoln with bronze medals around their necks. After defeat to Long Sutton (5-3) in the preliminary round of the Trophy, they reached the semi-final stage of the Plate following victories over Norwich Dragons (5-4), Wisbech Town (4-2) and Sunderland Broom (2-1).

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Semi-Final (Saturday 3 June, 11:30)

Lindum began the game strongly against their National League opposition with Rob Johnstone coming close to firing them ahead inside 5 minutes after some good build up play in the midfield. This seemed to be a wake-up call for Sevenoaks who then proceeded to apply plenty of pressure on the Lindum defence, and ultimately broke the deadlock just before the 10-minute mark; captain Duncan Parnis finding the bottom corner with a low drag flick. Parnis doubled Sevenoaks lead with a high strike on a penalty corner. Lindum began to regain their confidence as George Johnstone fired over the bar on his reverse, before Jo Siddans was inches away from reaching a ball across the circle moments later. With less than 10 minutes to go until half-time, Parnis scored his, and Sevenoaks’ third, tapping in from close range. This was moments after a superb save from Tom Rounsley as 2 attackers bore down on goal but couldn’t work their way around him. Max Denniff extended Sevenoaks’ lead to 4, 2 minutes before half-time, with a topped strike which was deflected past Rounsley by the outstretched stick of Ben Leeming.

Half-time: Lindum 0-4 Sevenoaks

After a rousing half-time team talk from captain Ben Lowe and coach Tom Saunders, Lindum came out with a sense of urgency and direction, and although Rounsley was forced into a good save, Lindum pulled a goal back with a superb counter-attack. Rob Johnstone forced his way through the middle of the park and played a diagonal ball across to Breesha Foxton who then had enough time to pick out Siddans in the middle of the circle for a brilliant finish, slotting underneath the incoming keeper. Lindum continued to press but couldn’t find the second goal they so thoroughly deserved, and it was Sevenoaks who were next on the scoresheet. David Smith had all the time in the world to fire past Rounsley into the bottom corner on his reverse. Despite all the pressure Lindum were under, they began to play some good hockey, moving the ball from side to side, without troubling the Sevenoaks defence too much. But they earned a penalty corner and came within inches of a second goal. Louie Sadler fired the ball towards the back post which just managed to squeeze between Rob Johnstone and Siddans. Foxton then presented Ben Treadgold with a good opportunity, after winning the ball on the opposition 23 and beating 2 players, but he could only find the keeper’s pads. With 10 minutes left to play, Parnis scored his 4th and his team’s sixth and final goal with a low drag which snuck past Rounsley.

Final score: Lindum 1-6 Sevenoaks

Although the score-line suggests the game was a one-sided affair, this was far from the truth. Lindum gave as good as they got, and were unfortunate in several scenarios, but could’ve been more clinical themselves. It was always going to be a difficult game against, arguably, the strongest side in the competition, but Lindum delivered a spirited performance. This defeat for Lindum meant they faced a 3rd/4th place play-off on the Sunday against St Albans, after they had been defeated 7-1 by Repton.

Bronze Medal Match (Sunday 4 June, 9:30)

Despite the early start and some tired legs from Saturday’s game, Lindum started brightly with a couple of chances for George Johnstone; the second of which was fired over the bar. 2 penalty corners in succession result in Lindum capitalising on their good start with Sam Temple-Baxter slapping in from the second, this after Rob Johnstone’s drag had been well saved from the first corner. St Albans began to grow into the game, and almost equalised but for a superb stick save from Rounsley, who continued his fine form from Saturday’s match. Lindum then spurned a couple of chances through Vic Fiddies and Louie Sadler, who’s drag flick was well blocked by an onrushing defender. However, it was St Albans who scored next as Alexis Hamilton lifted the ball over Rounsley who had just kept the ball out of the goal with a superb block when 1 on 1 with a St Albans forward. This allowed St Albans a route back into the game as they began to apply pressure to the Lindum backline. This was well absorbed as the orange attacks petered out. Lindum began moving the ball around the defence and midfield, and Siddans scored her second of the weekend, and Lindum’s second of the game, rounding off a brilliant piece of build-up play. Just before half-time, a deliberate foul on Holly Sinclair gave Temple-Baxter the opportunity to double his tally, and Lindum’s lead, from the penalty spot which he did with aplomb.

Half-time: St Albans 1-3 Lindum

It wasn’t long into the second half that St Albans pulled a goal back as they countered quickly resulting in a 2 on 1 against Rounsley, who was ever so close to preventing a goal, but didn’t quite reach the ball as Arman Islam tapped in at the back post. A succession of orange penalty corners followed, but to no avail before Sadler stepped up to show them how it’s done. Although his initial drag flick was blocked, he moved the ball around a defender before slapping high and with pace into the top bins, re-extending Lindum’s lead to 2 once more. Rob Johnstone then got in on the act, as his drag flick was deflected into the goal by a defender’s stick which took him 1 goal ahead of Treadgold in the top scorer’s chart for the mixed team. Lindum almost made it 6 as James Dewhurst played the ball across to Siddans who was inches away from getting a touch and finishing to round off a great individual and team performance.

Final score: St Albans 2-5 Lindum

The final was played shortly after, with Repton coming out on top of Sevenoaks 2-1 in the shootout. They had come from 2 goals behind to draw 2-2 in normal time to reach this stage. Following the commencement of the final, all 4 teams in the Plate observed a minute’s silence in the wake of the terror attack in London before stepping up to receive their medals.

Mixed Team

1 Tom Rounsley (GK), 2 Naomi Brush, 3 Georgie Deacon, 4 Ben Leeming, 7 Vic Fiddies, 8 Breesha Foxton, 9 Sam Temple-Baxter, 10 Ben Treadgold, 11 Jo Siddans, 12 George Johnstone, 13 James Dewhurst, 14 Robert Johnstone, 15 Benjamin Lowe (C), 16 Holly Sinclair, 17 Bev Steel, 22 Louie Sadler, 27 Libby Thorne

Manager: Sean O’Kelly
Coach: Tom Saunders
Assistant Coach: John Harrison
Assistant Coach: Libby Thorne

Thank You

Myself, Ben and the Team would like to thank the club for their continued support of our progress throughout the competition, and to our loyal following who were unrivalled in their support across the weekend. We would also like to thank the players who were involved throughout the competition, but were not selected for the finals weekend. Without all of these individuals involved, we would not have been successful in our cup campaign this season. We hope that we can continue our success and make trips to Lee Valley a regular occasion, and I look forward to working with the mixed team again next season.

Just a minute to go till the second half and it's advantage @LindumHockey as they lead @StAlbansHC 3-1 #MixedFinals pic.twitter.com/Ts5MFwT5oU

— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) June 4, 2017