Under the lights on a Friday night, Lindum Hockey lost their unbeaten record against local rivals Doncaster and brought the promotion-chase tighter.
Goals in the first, third and fourth quarters were enough for the hosts to come away with a 3-1 against the league-leaders.
The Yellow Submarine travelled to South Yorkshire in good spirits, looking to extend their unbeaten run and beat their bitter local rivals.
Doncaster knew they needed a win to improve their hopes of a promotion push, sitting six points behind the league leaders before pushback.
The hosts were yet to taste defeat in 2024, winning twice and drawing once, while Lindum were yet to taste defeat all season. The visitors came in off the back of a win over second-placed Timperley last weekend.
First-Half:
The game started in patient fashion, before Ben Read had the game’s first chance in the 4th minute. The Lindum man brought a nice save from Doncaster goalkeeper Max Davidson, as he began what would become a good night in net.
Lindum had plenty of the ball early-on, but it was the home side that took the lead. Tim Shelley played a defence-splitting pass into Travis Cresswell, who turned it around the corner to lively goalscorer Ryan Sproul.
Before the end of the first-quarter, both teams missed chances from penalty corners.
Jack Stoves looked to have scored in the 12th minute, but his goal was chalked off as it appeared to have come off his foot rather than his stick.
Lindum captain brought another good save out of Davidson as the visitors went into the first break a goal down.
It was a scoreless second-quarter as there were more cards than chances. Cresswell went closest, firing just wide from the edge of the circle. Lindum’s Jack Robson brought a pad save from the Doncaster ‘keeper, as the league’s third-placed side went into half-time a goal up over the league-leaders.
Second-Half:
More cards came after the break as Sam France and Jacob Barnes were both sin-binned. Lindum managed to see off the stretch without them on the pitch, but soon conceded a second.
Just after Robson and Read had shots saved in quick succession, Matt Gibson doubled Doncaster’s advantage. He converted from a penalty corner, as Matthew Parker went off following a yellow card.
The game was one of little chances, but scrappy play punctuating an otherwise slow evening. The Umpires became unpopular with the travelling Lindum fans, but the away side were pushing going into the final quarter.
Doncaster were fighting it by sitting back and defending sturdily, a tactic that was working.
As the fourth-quarter began, Jonathan Redfern whistled one just wide of the post, before Gibson added his second of the night to put the game beyond the Yellow Submarine. He flicked the ball home from a Jonny Powell short corner, leaving Lindum with a mountain to climb in the last ten minutes.
The travelling support wasn’t quieted by the third goal as they continued to cheer on their side. They were rewarded with a late Jacob Barnes conciliation goal, which gave the league-leaders a glimmer of hope.
It came from the game’s final penalty corner as Matt Parker’s shot was deflected in off Barnes’ stick.
The final quarter brought with it a barrage of shots from Lindum. Sam Temple-Baxter, Sam Dixon and Willow Mandel all went close or tested the resolute Doncaster goalkeeper.
The game had a scrappy edge, but also the quality of a top-of-the-table clash. Doncaster were made to work hard for their three points.
Doncaster Hockey 3-1 Lindum Hockey:
Lindum’s impressive unbeaten record came to an end at the hands of their local rivals in an enjoyable match. It was the Yellow Submarine’s first loss of the season, and their first in 36 all competition outings.
Doncaster extended their unbeaten start to 2024 and closed the gap on the league leaders to just three points. Lindum would be hoping for a response next Sunday, as they welcome Ben Rhydding to Lincoln.