Derby win over Leeds takes Adel top going into hiatus

Unbeaten in the league so far, Adel are currently looking to stay in a position they have claimed as their own over the last few seasons.

Leeds refused to capitulate however, and their defence was resolute. The best of the opening exchanges went to Simon Ball, who, obviously tired from having a new-born in the house, was denied by a good save from the Leeds goalkeeper.

Adel keeper Tom Taylor was more than a match for the opposition

and four short corners in succession proved too much for the overworked Leeds defence as Will Powley evaded the first challenge at the top of the area and fired the ball into the net.

From the second-half restart, Adel kept control but, knowing the smallest error could make the difference, both sides were fighting with all they had and it was unfortunate that it was Luke Cosford, a new player to Adel and someone not used to the local derby, who slipped in the middle of the park. With Adel pushing forwards, this mistake caught them off guard, and gave the Leeds forwards a rare chance – converting a two-on-one versus Taylor, with less than 20 minutes to play.

But, in the final stages of the match, Maver dominated the middle of the park, allowing nothing past him and effectively halting any Leeds movement outside of their own half. Entries into the Leeds area became more frequent with Adel still looking for the win, until a turnover of possession as the visiting side tried to clear their lines fell to Ball.

Coming from the right in a move that has played out many times over the years, on too many hockey pitches to count, Ball floated a cross through the area for Sam Harris to volley home. With the away side very much subdued, Adel saw out the final minutes of the game to notch their fifth victory of five.

Perched at the top of the league, Adel will hold that position for the foreseeable future owing to England Hockey postponing all competitions in line with the nationwide lockdown.