The men’s first team made one of their shorter trips of the season to face old rivals Harrogate in a high tempo, tension-strung affair. They came away with the three points in a storming performance to open their account in NHML Division One.

From the outset, Lindum attacked with pace and gusto, and were immediately rewarded as Rob Johnstone fired a reverse into the top right corner with only fifty-five seconds on the clock. The perfect start which Lindum continued to build on throughout the game. It was very nearly 2-0 inside five minutes, when an unorthodox penalty corner routine allowed Matt Bell to fire towards goal on his reverse, hitting the outside of the post. Lindum continued to push forward and were unlucky not to find the net with a string of penalty corners, but kept their cool as Harrogate began to grow into the game. Johnstone alleviated this pressure as he flicked in a rebound from a Mike White low drag with ten minutes to go before half-time. With two minutes to play, Bell was inches away from extending Lindum’s lead once more, striking the other post with a deflection attempt after good work from Angus Graham. HT: 2-0.

After a calming half-time team talk, Lindum added a third early on in the second half. Bell picked the ball up between the 23 and the halfway line and beat several players before squaring to James Dewhurst for a tight finish from close range. Harrogate then began to create a few chances, and were rewarded with a goal from a penalty corner. There was a question of a Harrogate foot as the ball was deflected toward goal, hitting a Lindum defender on the line, but it was bundled in by a blue forward and the goal was awarded. However, Lindum re-established their three-goal lead with Rob Johnstone beating two players on the left-hand side of the pitch and firing into the bottom right-hand corner with a lethal tomahawk to record his first hat-trick of the season. Moments later, Graham was unfortunate to receive a green card, but Lindum soaked up the pressure well to keep the score-line intact. The final twenty minutes were all about game management, an area of the game where the team has often struggled over the last couple of seasons. The team sat back to absorb pressure, whilst still creating chances on the counter, but were unfortunate not to add to their four goals with chances for Johnstone, Bell, Dewhurst and White. Harrogate had chances of their own, but could not create any clear opportunities from several penalty corners. FT: 4-1.

The win was thoroughly deserved, with the Lindum forwards in electric form. Following on from last week’s defeat, the team showed great character in victory against a side that they have often struggled against on the road. Plenty of positives to take into next week’s game against Gateshead, where the team will be hoping to build on this weekend’s result and continue their rise up the table. The game will be taking place at 13:30 at the Lindum Sports Association – all support is greatly appreciated.

Team: Alan Sanderson (GK), Ben Leeming, Louie Sadler, Tom White, Ian Ferraby, Sam Temple-Baxter (Capt.), Cameron Foster, Ben Treadgold, Matt Bell, Rob Johnstone, James Dewhurst, Matt Ingram, Angus Graham, Mike White

Head Coach: Gary Johnson / Manager: Sean O’Kelly
Goal scorers: R Johnstone 1F 25PC 48F, J Dewhurst 38F
MotM: Rob Johnstone
DotD: Louie Sadler