COLCHESTER 0 OLD SOUTHENDIAN 1


East Men’s League division one


Colchester Hockey Club's men's mid-season dip in form continued after their home defeat against league leaders Old Southendian made it three games without a win.
 

Colchester knew they would be in for a tough match and had a post to thank for twice denying the visitors, early in the match.
In a game where both defences were strong, it was always going to be a tight contest.


Colchester did have the ball in the back of the net before half-time.
Matt Brown took a quick free-hit and found Mark Kennedy, who showed great composure to fire the ball into the goal from inside the D.
 

However, after initially awarding the goal, the umpires convened and decided from the free-hit the ball had not travelled the necessary five metres before being played into the D.
 

With the scores level at half-time, both sides were keen to get themselves in front.
 

Colchester’s best chance came when the attack pressured the Old Southendian defence into passing the ball to Dean Campbell, whose first-time effort went narrowly wide.
 

But Old Southendian made their all-important breakthrough, midway through the second half.

They broke quickly down the left and when the ball was slipped past keeper Aaron Sime, Matt Foakes took a push in the back as he was sweeping behind.
 

After more deliberation between the umpires, they decided they had not seen an offence and so the goal stood.
 

Colchester were unable to find a way past the visiting defence and keeper after that.
 

And their misery was compounded on the stroke of full-time when Vince Moore was yellow-carded for tripping an Old Southendian forward.
 

And to rub further salt into the wound for the hosts, Foakes was also yellow-carded for disputing the umpire’s decision.

Despite the yellow card, Foakes was Ellisons Solicitors man-of-the-match for his superb tackling and interceptions.


Colchester will look to get back to winning ways when they head to Havering tomorrow.