Colombians dent Tigers' stage-one title hopes

Investec Colombians 6, Tigers 4

SECURING the first stage of the league title may not be as easy as Tigers hoped. Victory on Saturday would have put them within a point of the pre-Christmas honours. But Colombians botched those plans.

Unable to field a regular, full-strength side so far this season, Colombians have at times been a pale shadow of their former, all-conquering selves.

However, with just about a first-choice side on the Foote's Lane astro, and with long-time rivals Tigers standing in front of them, the yellows, resplendent in dazzlingly bright, new kit, played some stunning hockey to lead 3-0 at the break.

That Tigers fought back and looked worthy of drawing level spoke volumes for their spirit in the face of a possible hiding. Colombians broke away to hit a fourth, though, and as the dark-blues pushed on, more holes were left in their defensive third for their opponents to exploit.

Early exchanges were as biting as ever, with the odd challenge showing that there was still no love lost between these two old rivals.

With Tim Creasey and Tristan Cairns forming a solid central-midfield pairing, Colombians skipper Damian Wallen was able to play in a more-advanced role, which seemed to suit him. Tigers' midfield seemed unwilling to pick up their opponents and that would cost them dearly.

From a short corner, Colombians used their regular tactic, a TJ Ozanne drag flick, and the ball had too much pace for diving keeper Jason Robilliard. Five minutes later it was 2-0. A Tigers attack broke down and with four players meandering back to defend Colombians hit fast and hard, Cairns and Wallen combining for Creasey to dink the ball over Robilliard from the middle of the circle.

Even worse for Tigers' coach Andy Graham, who was fuming on the sideline, Cairns then gently brought the ball into the Tigers' 25, and a simple 10-yard pass found Creasey making an angled run left to right and he again finished with ease.

A fine, diving stop from Robilliard denied Cairns a fourth from a corner and it was not until the final three minutes of the half that Richard Saunders and then Dave Enevoldsen hit any kind of powerful shot towards Kees Jager's goal.

At this stage, Colombians - and a couple of watching Unwantables - were laughing: it was one-way traffic.

But the half-time talk worked wonders. Tigers came out renewed and refreshed, and no doubt with a few harsh truths from Graham still ringing in their ears.

Within two minutes a quick break found Enevoldsen on the right of the circle and he finished with a powerful flick into the far top corner. Colombians were still arguing that they should have had a stroke when Cairns was tripped when about to shoot.

Then Jim Gilligan's powerful short-corner strike went in off Kees Jager's boot. Game on.

Tigers bombed forward, but just when it lookd as if Colombians would not be able to resist any more, they broke to hit a fourth. Ozanne threw an aerial down the left wing, Chris Gill collected, drove and fed Chris Colmer and 'The Colonel' had a simple, pushed finish.

Again Tigers battled, Enevoldsen tipping in Gilligan's shot to make it 4-3 to the yellows.

But again they were caught. Ozanne added the vital touch to a Creasey shot and it was 6-3 when Cairns took his time at a short corner to pick his spot.

With just seconds left, Tigers hit a fourth, Gilligan again hammering in a well-placed short-corner strike.

Colombians coach Ollie Goddard was pleased. 'We controlled the first half fairly well. In the second they threw everything at us and we struggled to cope with their changes,' he said.

'We conceded some goals, but the game's about scoring goals and we scored more than they did, thankfully.

'We have been using the past few games almost as practice. We realised after the first couple of games that the chances of us winning the first stage of the league were not great.'

Coach Graham was generous in defeat: 'They really showed that they had four first-team island players on the park today.

'Their movement threw us. In the first half especially, it was phenomenal.

'Mark Babbe and Warren Cann have been used to controlling games from midfield. They were not allowed to today.'