SZYMON Oszyjczyk completed a hat-trick with the late winner for Khalsa Leamington Men’s Firsts to defeat visitors University of Birmingham 2nds in the England Hockey Midlands Conference League.
Coach Sally Walton was confident Khalsa could prove the previous two losses were a blip and they did just that.
The students started brightly and keeper Jonathan Phillips made a couple key saves early on. The back line of Jack Wells, Chris Darling, Sean Robinsingh and Ben Stephenson started to settle and kept further University forays at bay.
An attack from KLHC led to Alex Murdoch striding down the right channel where he managed to find Oszyjczyk with a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. However, the faintest of touches from the keeper deflected onto the post as the first quarter ended goalless.
The home side came out into the second quarter with more determination and produced countless attacks through the tireless running of Anit Chudasama, Joe Colantonio, Ciaran Smith and Ollie Thomas. Neat moves ended with Oszyjczyk dispatching two goals in quick succession to make it 2-0 at half-time.
Birmingham came out in the second half with renewed energy, creating numerous chances and scoring twice to make it 2-2.
An immediate change from coach Walton was rewarded with Oszyjczyk scoring his third goal.
The last quarter was end to end and both teams had numerous chances to score more goals. Phillips in the home goal was the busier but he managed to keep Birmingham at bay and KLHC held out for their first three points this season.
KLHC Men’s 1sts travel to Lichfield on Sunday (October 17).
Dani Black scored twice and Leila Scott hit another as Khalsa Leamington Ladies 1st XI’s defeated hosts Oxford University 3-1 in the England Hockey Vitality Midlands Conference League.
Oxford Uni started well with some good passing play and went ahead early in the first half.
As KLHC settled, the back line of Lucy Shepherd, Emma Nobes, Sophie Drewry, Abi George, and Sarah Gambling kept the students forward line at bay with keeper Sharon Jheeta making some important saves.
This gave the midfield line of Emily Dent, EJ Macleod, Jane Wackett, Freya Richardson and Rachel Powell more time with the ball to create multiple opportunities for the forward line.
The tireless running of the forwards including Kerry Luckett and, newly signed player, Kat Berns, created options for Scott and Black.
The Khalsa breakthrough came early in the fourth quarter, with Black looping shot over the keeper.
This was quickly followed by a second, as Black’s driving run took her past the final two Oxford defenders created a one-v-one with the keeper, who was beaten by a quick hit well placed into the bottom corner.
The final goal came in the last five minutes with a dive from Scott on the back post to deflect the ball over the top of the keeper just before they both collided on the floor.
Oxford Uni took their keeper off to play 11 outfield players for the last three minutes of the game but could not put another goal past Khalsa.
