Gill-inspired Colombians closing in on top spot

Colombians 2, Beavers 2

ARGUABLY the best game of the season was served up as the top two clashed in Division One of the Investec men's league. Investec Colombians and Isabel's Beavers were both intent on playing decent hockey and there was little sign of the niggle which often mars this fixture as some of the best players in the island shone brightly.

'It was a really good game. Both sides wanted to win and there was lots of attacking hockey,' said Colombians captain Damian Wallen.

'Games between us are generally tight. They have got the experience whereas we have youth and enthusiasm. The two usually meet somewhere in the middle.'

Having been well beaten in the previous clash, Beavers really needed a victory to have any chance of securing top spot at the close of the first half of the season.

However, they were missing new signings Ollie Richards and Jonathan Wilkes-Green, who were both away on the Elizabeth College first XI football tour.

Meanwhile, Colombians were without influential playmaker Tristan Cairns, Matt de la Mare and Rob Much.

Beavers started the stronger as their slick passing game caused the Colombians midfield a number of problems.

The incisive running of Mark Babbe and Barry Wallace pushed Colombians backwards and Dave Morris and Pierre Moody came very close to opening the scoring.

But for a fine display in the Colombians goal by Andy Good, Beavers might have stolen an early lead.

However, it didn't affect Colombians' high-tempo game: even under pressure their fast-break attacks were often dangerous. It was a defensive error that allowed Colombians to launch such a raid.

An inaccurate hit found TJ Ozanne, who squared the ball to Chris Gill and he drove his shot over Jason Robilliard's head, just below the crossbar to take the lead.

It lasted about five minutes when a fantastic solo effort by Wallace levelled things. A cross-field run took him past three Colombians, Matt Elston managed to get a tackle in at the top of the D, but the ball fell back to Wallace on the reverse-stick side and he blasted it past Good.

The tide of the game turned again when, after a sustained period of pressure from Colombians during which Robilliard showed that he has lost little of the skill that made him island first-team keeper, Gill got his second.

Ozanne had won a couple of short corners which Robilliard had dealt with well. However, at the third, Ozanne dragged a low flick that Robilliard kicked back out with pace, only for Gill to blast a first-time shot into the bottom corner, a fantastic, instinctive strike.

'Chris is an unsung hero. He never loses the ball and scores lots of goals,' Wallen said.

After half-time, Colombians had a 10-minute period of domination with Wallen and Tim Creasey pushing forward.

For Beavers, Jan Collins and Phil Reid tackled well to break up attacks but they couldn't clear their lines.

Then Beavers got back on top, Morris looking very good, but being guilty of holding the ball just a second too long on occasions.

The equaliser came from a fantastic move, which started with a pass from the impressive Charlie Allen to Moody, who played a one-two with Morris and then slipped the ball into the corner.

Beavers' exertions in getting back into the game told and Colombians came back again.

Wallen had a strong appeal for what he believed to be a flick turned down with minutes to go.

However, as Colombians pushed forward, Morris and Moody also created a couple of good chances but the match remained deadlocked.

A draw was a fair result as neither side deserved to lose this one, which bodes well for the second half of the league.

'There were quite a few people playing out of position. We pushed Chris Colmer into midfield to fill a hole and he did really well,' said Wallen.

'For Beavers, Barry Wallace has always been extremely skilful but now he seems a lot fitter to go with it.

'He looked very good on Sunday.'

Providing Colombians avoid defeat against Yobbos this weekend, they will finish top of the first half of the league.