Revenge for Dalefield

Hockey

Dalefield men's hockey team gained a measure of revenge and all but came away with the spoils after an exciting game against Northern United in Wellington on Saturday.

Northern had put eight goals past Dalefield in a previous fixture but the Clareville side were in no mood to tolerate a repeat of that result.

It was a case of so near yet so far for Dalefield, who led 4-3 up to the final whistle when they conceded the equalising goal from a penalty corner. "We really should have won that one," manager Dave Blackwood said. "Northern were relieved to escape with the draw".

In an exciting game on Saturday, Dalefield trailed 2-1 at the break but "put their foot to the pedal" in the second half to dominate proceedings, scoring three goals in the process.

"They were all well-constructed goals from open play," Blackwood said, "but the one Aaron Oakley scored was really special, a reverse stick shot which fizzed into the goal off the underside of the cross bar. You don't see too many of those".

While Blackwood stressed the performance was as close to a whole 70-minute effort as the team had achieved to date and they could "hold their heads up high", he singled out keeper Orin Lockyer and fullback Chris Mason for special mention.

"Mason pulled off some vital tackles and made some great clearances whilst Lockyer pulled off a couple of great saves."

Dion Field (twice) and Alex Sumento-Bucknell were the other scorers for Dalefield, who nearly managed to bring the Schaefer Cup back over the hill. It was the first time the cup was up for grabs between the sides, a move initiated by the Wellington club.