Title tantalisingly close as Leeds Adel Hockey Club gets set for run-in

The end of the season is in sight, and every point is even more valuable now, both for those teams chasing the title and those fighting for survival.

That was the story of these two teams – Adel sitting at the summit of the league, holding on to their position by a single point, with Richmond one place from the bottom position by the same margin.

The first half began much the same as many of Adel’s previous games, with them immediately creating a tempo that their opposition struggled to compete with, forcing their opponents into making mistakes that they then took advantage of.

The pressure exerted by the home side soon created a series of short corners, allowing Gareth Maver to show his accuracy from a set-piece. A beautifully taken shot from the top of the area sped past all the defenders and crossed the line an inch inside the post, leaving the Richmond keeper with no chance of getting in the way.

On a usual day, the first goal would signal the start of a goal-fest as Adel would look to overpower their opposition by sheer force of will.

Richmond were not going to be that easy however, as they knuckled down and began to show some good play, putting together quick passes to try escape the high press Adel had set up.

The ball would be cleared by the Richmond defence, only for it to come straight back at them as the home side increased the pressure. As it has in so many of their games this season, the pressure soon started to create more and more clear-cut chances and soon Adel had added to their lead.

A slick passing move was finished off by Will Purdey as he scored the first of his two for the day. Richmond seemed to submit to the inevitable at this point and, although they never stopped fighting, it was clear they were playing a game of damage limitation.

Three more goals before the end of the game – Purdy getting his second and both Alex Belshire and James Stroomer keeping their run of goals going – meant a five-goal win for the Men of Adel.Coach, Simon Ball, holds his players to a very high standard, evident in his feeling that the game was “poor quality but enough for the three points”. This is in no way derogatory towards either team, but is more a statement that despite the result, he feels that there are still areas of the Adel game that can be improved.

The rearranged game, versus Driffield, that was due to be played on Sunday, was once more postponed because of the weather.

This game, between first and third, could be the deciding factor on final league positions, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the new date for this battle.

The challenge to the top of the league for Adel Ladies First XI has hit a slight bump in recent weeks, as just four points from a possible nine has seen them lose ground on third-place side, Boston Spa. However, a well-fought win away at Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, coupled with Boston losing to Doncaster meant the last few weeks could be forgotten.

With five games left, a top-three finish is well within the realms of possibility and, with games against two of the teams above them in the league, Adel still have a say in who can take the title.

Adel results in full: Men’s Ones 5 Richmond 0, Men’s Twos 5 City of York 1, Men’s Threes 6 Rotherham 2, Men’s Fours 4 Boston Spa 2, Men’s Fives 1 Ben Rhydding 6, Men’s Sixes 1 Leeds Uni 6, Ladies Ones 1 Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 0, Ladies Twos 5 Huddersfield 1, Ladies Threes 0 Colne Valley 4, Ladies Fours 3 Huddersfield 0, Ladies Fives 0 Tadcaster 3.

****

The fortunes of Leeds Hockey Club first teams – male and female – have not been good this season.

Both sides are currently bottom of their respective leagues, looking likely to suffer the ignominy of relegation. The Men travelled to take on Cardiff and Met last Saturday, and the long journey obviously obviously didn’t suit as they lost 4-1.

Cardiff are still pushing hard at the top and the gulf in class was clear as it took less than five minutes for the home side to be two goals ahead. In the second half, Leeds went four behind before Martin Sutherland scored a consolation goal eight minutes from time.

With six games left of their season, Leeds Men will need wins against Sheffield Hallam and Peterborough, their nearest league rivals, to stand any chance of survival. Leeds Ladies fared no better than the Men as their trip to Swansea ended in a 5-0 defeat.

Swansea scored just the one before half-time but their superior fitness showed as they scored three of their four second-half goals in the game’s last nine minutes. Leeds never seemed to get started in the game and struggled throughout.

The Ladies have just five games to save their season but face the next three games on the road with visits to Brooklands, Belper and Gloucester before a home derby against Ben Rhydding.