Too much 'Unwanted' talk in niggly clash

Unwantables 3, Tigers 2

THE battle for the second session of the Investec Men's Division One will go right to the wire. Clubhouse Unwantables gave themselves every chance of topping the table come the end of the post-Christmas league with a 3-2 defeat of Tigers on Saturday.

It was as close and niggly as many had predicted: four goals in the first half, three yellow cards in the second before a late, late decider.

'It was pleasing to win it: so often we don't get the luck in tight games like that,' said Unwantables skipper Adie Peacegood.

'The second half was scrappy; there wasn't a lot of hockey being played. I just don't know why so many people have to mouth off at the umpires. At just about every challenge somebody had to say something.

'It was great to score right at the end. It's good to get a goal at any time, but with just a minute left it didn't give them time to get back in it.'

Rob Newton's winner came as the match entered added time, extra seconds which the umpires allowed for the time they took having to warn players and dish out cards.

Three had to spend a spell off the park on the sidelines: Tigers' Jim Gilligan and Barry Wallace and Unwantables' Steve Perchard. There were as many green cards: it was neither pretty nor quiet stuff.

Unwantables took the lead after a slick interchange of passes pulled Tigers' back line out of position. Martin Robert still had plenty to do at the top of the D, but he skipped between two defenders and slapped the ball low past Dave Walley's left boot.

Tigers had already allowed two short corners to go begging and Barry Wallace also drew a low save from Paul Bullock as the dark blues initially misfired up front.

Newton could have doubled Unwantables' advantage but clattered a breakaway chance into the side netting. Finally clicking, Tigers moved downfield to equalise.

Wallace speared a free hit into the heart of the D and Pierre Moody cleverly diverted the ball past the wrong-footed Bullock. It was not quite what the Tiger meant, but it counted all the same.

And they moved ahead on 18min., a simple routine at a short corner freeing Mark Jefferies in the middle of the D. His crashing shot found the backboard past the unsighted keeper.

Having gained momentum, Tigers then forced a succession of short corners as Unwantables looked increasingly desperate when defending.

That they did owed much to Peacegood's positional play and a couple of beautifully-timed tackles by the skipper.

The black-and-reds drew level after Dave Banks rode a challenge into the Tigers D and earned a short corner. Perchard's clean strike to make it 2-2 flew past Walley almost before he had time to move.

Banks had a great chance seconds before the break but Walley was off his line quickly to narrow the angle and block with his chest.

And so to the second half, or, as it should have been known, round two. Too many clumsy challenges - some deliberately so - and far too much unnecessary and unwanted advice to the umpires made the period awful to watch. Voices were raised, various hands, too, as the sides forgot to play simple hockey.

Bullock repelled a Jefferies short corner strike, Perchard shaved a post and Phil Ogier was left frustrated by a bobble of the ball when looking to pounce just yards out, and that was the limit of the chances until the closing seconds.

Unwantables forced two short corners and from the second Perchard slipped the ball right to Newton. His crisp drive gave his side all three points.

Four teams still have a chance of winning session two - Unwantables, Tigers, Yobbos and Colombians - while only Rebel Alliance and Elizabethans are out of the running and looking to avoid the wooden spoon.

Even so, they will play a big part in who does win part two. Both have the potential to make opponents work hard and goal difference may yet decided who tops the table.