Win double over Driffield keeps Adel in the hunt for the North East Division 2 title

The forecast snow had yet to make an appearance as Leeds Adel Men’s First XI headed East to notch the first of a win double over Driffield in the North East Division 2’s weekend games, writes DAVE TAYLOR.
Action from Adel's North East Division 2 encounter with Driffield. PIC: John HealdAction from Adel's North East Division 2 encounter with Driffield. PIC: John Heald
Action from Adel's North East Division 2 encounter with Driffield. PIC: John Heald

After their loss the previous week, Adel slipped to second and knew that they needed a double victory over third-place Driffield to keep pressure on Brigg at the top.

History wasn’t with the side in orange as, last season, the away fixture saw Adel suffer a 9-2 defeat – one of their worst in recent years, and coach Simon Ball knew that, despite the current gap in points, Driffield were going to be a stern test for his side.

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The statistics also suggested it would likely be a high-scoring affair as, between them, the sides had already amassed 180 goals this season and clear at the top of the league’s scoring charts.

Match day: Adel against Driffield. PIC: John HealdMatch day: Adel against Driffield. PIC: John Heald
Match day: Adel against Driffield. PIC: John Heald

Adel were sluggish and went behind after an aerial ball by Driffield was mis-controlled by the normally rock-solid Adel backline and, in the confusion, the ball was jumped on by a Driffield forward and slotted past keeper Tom Taylor.

Adel hit back through top scorer Sam Harris after some strong build-up play.

This began a period of end-to-end hockey.

The constant pressure was always going to yield results and, after the first 35 minutes of play, the home side had sneaked a small lead of 3-2 to take into the break.

Match day for Adel against Driffield. PIC: John HealdMatch day for Adel against Driffield. PIC: John Heald
Match day for Adel against Driffield. PIC: John Heald
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It hasn’t been often this season that coach Ball has been called upon to lift his side from being behind in a game, but a rousing half-time talk sent the Adel players out for the second half with new energy and focus.

Determined not to disappoint, Adel set out and, in Ball’s own words ‘responded with the best 20 minutes of the season’.

Four unanswered goals within these 20 minutes – the pick of them being a rapid counter attack with Ben Leeming sprinting clear to feed James Moorhouse to finish sharply and complete his hat-trick – put the game firmly in the Adel’s hands.

Despite a small lapse in defensive focus which saw Driffield reduce the deficit with a penalty stroke, Adel showed their maturity and saw the game out without any further problems for a 6-4 victory.

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Will Purdy was the man of the match, for his tireless running.

And, despite not being on the scoresheet himself, having a hand in the build-up to each of the goals.

A windy Sunday saw the reverse fixture, as Driffield made the journey across to Adel Sport Club in what was the third attempt at getting this game played – both previous games being postponed because of bad weather.

A much-changed Driffield side, mainly owing to availability on a Sunday, were greeted by a large crowd of ‘Adel Ultras’ on the side-lines, wrapped up against the weather, but willing to cheer on their side.

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After the previous days game, coach Ball knew that his squad could not afford to take the visitors lightly, and that anything less than total focus and composure would be punished by the opposition – a message he was vocal in impressing on his players before the start of the match.

In a sharp contrast to the day before, Adel started brightly and quickly got on the front foot with good possession and created several early chances.

The deadlock was soon broken by Harris, scoring a trademark back-post tap-in after a good cross from captain James Stroomer.

Almost no time had passed before Adel doubled their lead after a huge aerial from Alex Belshire soared over the Driffield defence and into the path of Stroomer, who showed composure to round the keeper and finish into an empty net.

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Driffield knew they were still capable of hurting Adel and continued to battle before being rewarded with a back-post tap in.

Sometimes, however, the worst thing to do is score against Adel as this setback spurred the home side to re-establish their dominance with a further two goals for a 4-1 score line at half-time.

Two games in less than 24 hours was catching up with the players, as minor injuries to the home side forced a slight juggling of positions.

This alteration was taken advantage of by Alex Belshire who moved from the back line to the front and finished the game with five goals, ahead of Harris, who obtained yet another hat-trick, and Stroomer with a single goal.

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A 9-2 victory meant that, over the two games, Adel had scored 15 goals and taken their season’s tally to a staggering 113.

There are only two games left of Adel’s campaign, and they will be hoping the injury to James Stroomer’s hand was more a cry for sympathy and not as serious as first thought, as all six points are required if they hope to take the title.

Adel results in full: Men’s Ones 6 Driffield 4 (Sat), Men’s Ones 9 Driffield 2 (Sun), Men’s Twos 3 Leeds 0, Men’s Threes 0 Driffield 2, Men’s Fours 4 Huddersfield Dragons 2, Men’s Fives 4 Boston Spa 1, Men’s Sixes 2 Kingston Upon Hull 4, Ladies Ones 2 Sheffield Uni Bankers 1, Ladies Threes 1 Chapeltown 0, Ladies Fours 0 Harrogate 2, Ladies Fives 0 University of Leeds 5.

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