Premier League Vs ECU

Match Report
Premier League
Peterborough versus ECU
9th December 2022 at Bushfields Leisure Centre, Peterborough.

Peterborough Squad

1. Anthony Williams (Goalkeeper)
2. James Berry
3. Jake Reed
4. Josh Aaltonen
5. Luca Oakley
6. Harry Hillam
7. Milo Carter
8. Alfie Newton
9. Lilly Messenger
10. Tyler Salmon (GK and Captain)

ECU Squad

40 Hattie Ford (GK)
3    Hannah Barrow
5    Joao Bastos
6    Max Dunand
7    Luis Gomes
25  Martin Walker
27  Tony Wilson (Captain)
34  Pedro Goncalves

Referees:-

• Peter Flint
• Steve Taylor

The game started brightly with both teams missing early chances.  Once ECU had settled into their rhythm, they started to look menacing through the penetrative runs of Luis Gomes.  Then after eight minutes the deadlock was broken as ECU took the lead.  A loose pass upfield from a Peterborough player was cut out and put ECU straight onto the attack with Max Dunand.  Max cleverly waited for the right moment to switch the ball inside into the path of the fast-approaching Luis Gomes who gleefully swept the ball home.  At this stage of the game, Martin Walker and Luis Gomes looked menacing every time they went forward to attack the Peterborough goal.  Peterborough 0 ECU 1.

The goal they conceded seemed to invigorate Peterborough play over the next five minutes as they took the game to ECU. A long slapshot from Jake Reed was well saved by Hattie Ford in the ECU goal.  This was followed up by another strong slapshot from Harry Hillam which again was finely saved by the ECU goalkeeper.  A quick break by Luis Gomes down the right-hand side allowed him to hit a fine pass across the face of the goal to Martin Walker, but he uncharacteristically missed the target from two yards out.  Another fine slapshot from Jake Reed was again confidently stopped by Hattie in the ECU goal.  Another slapshot from Luis Gomes was then acrobatically saved by Anthony Williams in the Peterborough goal only for the ball to fall invitingly at the feet of Joao Bastos, who looked destined to score, but the chance went begging.  A fast move down ECU’s left by Alfie Newton and a good cross rink pass to Luca Oakley who’s goal bound shot looked in only for Hattie Ford to produce another excellent save.  After this flurry of activity ECU had their best spell.

An excellent flick by Luis Gomes produced a fine save from Anthony Williams.  Another good ECU break down the left by Max Dunand resulted in his shot striking the crossbar.  A ten-minute delay then occurred as Hannah Barrow received treatment after she had crashed to the floor injuring her elbow and unfortunately, was unable to take any further part in the match.  Another hard shot from Luis Gomes struck the wall behind the goal and rebounded to Martin Walker, who looked certain to score, but he scooped his shot over the crossbar.  However, two minutes later Martin redeemed himself by latching onto a fine pass from Luis Gomes as he swept the ball home.  Peterborough 0 ECU 2.

Half Time Peterborough 0  ECU 2

Peterborough started the second half strongly and the ECU goalkeeper made a brilliant double save from Alfie Newton which she followed up with another fine save from Luca Oakley’s flick.  ECU then confidently contained several fast, thrusting runs and turned their attention to attack with a fine run by Max Dunand who found himself in a desirable 2 against 1 opportunity against a Peterborough defender and his timely cross rink pass found Pedro Goncalves who confidently swept the ball pass Anthony Williams.  Peterborough 0 ECU 3. 
A hard slapshot from Harry Hillam painfully struck Martin Walker’s hand who left the rink for some swift attention but thankfully he returned shortly afterwards.  The next action involved the ECU Captain, Tony Wilson, who was harshly adjudged to have hooked Jake Reed in a scrap for the ball behind the ECU goal.  Tony was given a blue card but unfortunately, for Peterborough, Josh Aaltonen missed the resultant direct hit.
A fine break down ECU’s left allowed Jake Reed to find space for a deadly slapshot which at last found its way past the ECU goalkeeper.  Peterborough 1 ECU 3. A fast break by Alfie Newton, in the dying moments of the game, produced an excellent shot from him which missed the near post by a fraction.

A special mention for the two goalkeepers in this match, Hattie Ford and Anthony Williams, who both produced excellent performances.

The young Peterborough side can “take heart” from this match as they provided stiff opposition to the more experienced players from ECU who were strong and well organised.  ECU took full advantage of a couple of Peterborough mistakes in crucial positions to seal their victory.

It was a fine game of fast-moving hockey, played competitively and in the right spirit, with very few team fouls.  It looked like both referees were enjoying their officiating duties.

Final score – Peterborough 1 ECU 3.