Lindum Hockey snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in their Division One North opener against Deeside Ramblers.
The visitors, who have recorded consecutive eighth place finishes in the division, turned the game around after going 3-1 down in the third quarter. It was Lindum’s debut outing in the second tier of England Hockey, marking the first time a Lincolnshire-based side have ever played at that level.
An Impressive First-Half Performance:
Lindum impressed in their second-tier debut, started the game on the front foot. Ben Read stung the palms of Oliver Balcombe in the early goings, as the hosts controlled much of the possession.
Inside the opening five minutes, the Yellow Submarine had the lead. Sam Dixon slashed home a penalty corner after returnee Angus Graham neatly laid it off to him.
Deeside seemed to have been shocked into life by the early goal, as Ali Ghazanfar forced a save out of Lindum’s new goalkeeper Dan Garlick. Somehow, Finn Leonard failed to draw the game level, missing from just a couple of yards out when looking to turn a deflected shot home.
Lindum had a stream of penalty corners during the first-half, but either saw them blocked, saved, or agonisingly shot wide. Joey Finding had hit the woodwork for the hosts, in the closet they went on adding a second.
Leonard managed to equalise for his side before the half-time whistle sounded, netting towards the close of a back-and-forth second quarter.
Lindum Hockey Net a Quickfire Double:
Dixon added his and Lindum’s second early in the third quarter. He was handed the opportunity to put his side back into the lead from a penalty flick. The forward made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Oliver Balcombe the wrong way.
The hosts doubled their advantage minutes later, as Harry Antill netted at the second attempt. His first effort was saved by Balcombe, but the Deeside number one could only push the ball back into the path of Antill for a second stab at goal.
A Squandered Lead:
However, the game then turned on its head. David McNally made the first inroads, as he sniped the ball past Garlick after Ghazanfar laid it off to him from a penalty corner.
A green card, and subsequent two minute sin-bin for Jack Robson, swiftly followed.
As the rain tumbled down in Lincoln, the game turned. Rob Way tipped the ball in at the front post following smart movement down the left side of Lindum’s defence to level the scores.
Seconds into the final quarter, the turnaround was complete. A Deeside attacker poked home after a goalmouth scramble and a half-save from Garlick. It was a complete change of fortunes from Lindum looking ease in their new surrounds during the first-half of the afternoon.
The hosts rallied and Sam Perrin forced a smart pad save out of Balcombe. A green card for the Ramblers’ Tom Fearnall could have given Lindum a chance to get back on level terms, but Dixon lashed a shot agonisingly wide.
Andy Balmer and the lively Ghazanfar both shot over the top for the visiting Ramblers, as Louie Sadler and skipper Rob Johnstone showed ill-discipline to be yellow carded in quick succession.
That allowed Deeside to put the game to bed with two minutes of the 70 left on the clock, as Ghazanfar netted a fifth from a short corner.
There were positives to take for Lindum in their historic season opener, but the result told the story of a game that got away from the home side. Next up is a tough trip to Durham University next Sunday.