Should Have Been More...

History has produced some fantastic games between the two sides and every game is guaranteed to be a hard fought, tightly contested affair which is potentially what offers the biggest appeal. With a valuable 3 points at stake, and even more valuable ‘bragging rights’, the foundations were set.

Keswick fielded another strong line up but were without James Fennell, however the ever dependable Paul Randell stepped in. The game began as expected with every stray ball being contested and possession being retained impeccably – it was clear, and understandably so, that both sides did not want to allow their opponents to get a foothold in the game which, despite the obvious rivalry, also showed a poetic mutual respect.

Keswick did begin to gain a light upper hand and the midfield contest became controlled by Shaun Wilson, who was impeccable from start to finish, and Mark Proctor who brought a welcome return of his persistency and stamina into the fray. South Lakes posed some threat on the break but Chris Mattear continued to grow into one of the squads biggest assets with another faultless display, dispensing of any such threat with ease.

South Lake’s Hutch and Keswick’s Peter Tolmie both made important saves to keep the score at a deadlock in the early stages but the warning signs were beginning to show for Glaxo, particularly down the flanks from the duel partnerships of Morgan/Sutton and Swanston/Owen. Midway through the half though Keswick took the lead and it has to said it was deserved. A fine move was completed almost inevitably by the greatly in-form Rob Cook who’s performances and efforts seem to improve with each game.

Glaxo are not a team who are short in talent or ability and are a match against any team, however, are sometimes tarnished with an unsportsman like approach in some areas, most notably tackling when they are not having the run of play. It must be said that this idea is based on the history of the clubs dating back over a decade but in recent years these fixtures are more often than not what can best be described as ‘hard but fair’ games. However, some individuals seem to forget that the side they are facing these days, are not the side they did years ago.

One such individual, after being expertly evaded by the skills of Cook thrust out a leg in a deliberate attempt to ground the Keswick maestro, with no attempt to challenge for the ball and this occasion, went unnoticed and unpunished but it was clear to see the mindset of said individual. Moments before half time, Peter Sutton did brilliantly to drive the ball towards the opposing ‘D’ and before he could pick out a pass, was fouled deliberately by the aforementioned ‘player’ with the sole intention of harming/injuring Peter Sutton. It was a pathetic attempt to showcase how ‘macho’ he was in front of the home crowd as this was surely all it was meant to be as there was no effort made to win the ball.

But justice was then done as the resulting free play allowed Cook to win a short corner which was converted nicely by Morgan on the stroke of half time to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. However little over a couple of months earlier, Keswick held the same lead at the break in a Cup fixture which was cancelled out by two late strikes from South Lakes so the game was far from over.

Within 10 minutes from the restart, the lead was halved following a short corner routine being converted and again, the fixture had purpose – South Lakes could smell an equaliser. However – any such scent was almost immediately removed as the two goal cushion was restored. Morgan and Fletcher worked in synch down the right which created the opening for Barnes to strike on goal and although the shot was initially saved, the rebound fell to Sutton who flicked the ball goalwards, passed defence and keeper, and into the back of the net.

Keswick continued to dominate as South Lakes began to crumble. Barnes closed down the home defence from their own 16 with fantastic dedication to the cause, obtained possession, rounded the keeper and slotted home – only for the goal to be ruled out for an alleged illegal infraction.
The tie was effectively put to rest from a short corner routine midway through the second half – the ball being played from Wilson to Cook and Morgan and back to Wilson who unleashed a thunderous drive against the backboard for a 1-4 scoreline.

Glaxo, to their credit, kept fighting when possible and added another to their tally albeit in controversial fashion. Keswick continued to surge forward when possible – Swanston dribbling from D to D in one such attack but could not pick out Barnes to complete the move while Sutton had his second goal of the afternoon chalked off again.

Rob Cook completed the afternoons scoring with his second brace of the weekend and was unlucky not to complete the hattrick with his cheeky chipped effort leaving the keeper in no mans land only to drop wide.
The game only had enough time left for a well deserved yellow card for another atrocious and down right pathetic “attempted tackle” on Morgan which saw the home side left with 10 men and once again, the one individual cast a sad dark shadow over his teams otherwise spirited efforts and a good game of hockey.