Adel clear final home hurdle with league ‘double’ over Whitley Bay

Earlier in the season, Whitley Bay suffered a 3-1 loss to Adel but the game was a hard-fought affair and Adel knew they would be in for a tricky test in the rematch on home turf.

However, Whitley Bay, instead of trying to compete with the home side at their own high-tempo game, set themselves up with their entire team behind the ball, relying on counterattacks when they did gained possession.

As a result it took longer than was comfortable for the home supporters for their team to score a first goal.

That goal, when it came, was down to a passage of strong play that led to James Moorhouse winning and scoring from a short corner. Nerves were eased but not totally allayed, as Whitley Bay were a constant threat with their quick counters and direct running.

Adel, however, soon doubled their lead, top scorer Sam Harris stepping up to take the responsibility for the penalty stroke, and duly placed the ball past the despairing keeper.

A small lapse in concentration allowed the ever-dangerous Whitley Bay to pull a goal back before the half finished from a short corner.

The second half began by mirroring the first.

Adel’s build up play, however, became more controlled and structured and with it came a second goal for Harris, a third for the hosts.

And the game was put to bed shortly after as Harris got yet another hat-trick. Moorhouse was again involved in the build up with a marauding Crocker, who provided the cross for Harris.

A successful campaign is almost over, with just the one game left, as Adel travel to face Sheffield University Bankers this coming weekend.

Adel HC results: Men’s Ones 4 Whitley Bay 1, Men’s Twos 1 Kingston Upon Hull 6, Men’s Threes 2 Acomb 1, Men’s Fives 1 Acomb 1, Men’s Sixes 4 Huddersfield 1, Ladies Ones 3 Boston Spa 1, Ladies Twos 3 Slazengers 4, Ladies Threes 1 Slazengers 3,Ladies Fours 1 Slazengers 2, Ladies Fives 3 City of York 3.

Leeds Hockey Club’s Men’s First XI took a point from their 3-3 draw with Olton and West Warwicks on Saturday, in a game where they held the lead until the final seconds.

The draw means that Leeds have only five points to show for their campaign this time around and are all-but relegated from National Division One North.

Leeds Ladies First team still have a hope of avoiding relegation, despite losing 2-0 to Gloucester at the weekend.

Both goals came from Gloucester’s Frankie Mayes, that put the game beyond the reach of Leeds.

With three games to go for the Ladies, including a game against fellow strugglers Belper, Leeds need to start turning their losses into victories if they are to have any hope of staying in the National Division One North.

This coming weekend sees them host local rivals Ben Rhydding on Saturday, before they travel to take on Belper in the winner-takes-all game.