Crostyx Hockey Club

Crostyx suffered back-to-back losses as some weak defending and a slice of misfortune provided the opposition with a victory in a game marked by sloppy passages of play in which both teams were guilty of surrendering possession.

After a delayed start, which meant that the game was reduced to forty minutes, Crostyx started the more brightly with some fast interchanges and clinical passing to dominate the first five minutes of the game. Unfortunately, the positive start failed to lead to any meaningful penetration in to the opposition D before a moment of indecision saw the Crostyx defence fail to clear from an unthreatening position and provide the Thundercats with an easy conversion past the stranded Wallich, who was making his Crostyx debut in goal. As the first half continued the bright spots of free-flowing hockey dried-up as errant passes became the theme of the day and the whistle marking the end of the half provided the spectators with some respite.


Once again, a quick turnaround to get the second half underway gave Crostyx little opportunity for a rest and a regroup and as the clock ticked the game petered out into a scruffy midfield battle as both teams failed to take any advantage from promising positions. However, a fortuitous passage of play from an innocuous Thundercats attack was looking like another 16- hit out as the Crostyx defence let the ball run-off the goal line only for the ball to rebound off the post and onto the opposition player’s stick for a second easy conversion. Apart from this sloppy goal, the spectators’ only remaining entertainment in the second half were one or two sorties made in to the D by each team which failed to yield a single genuine chance or shot on goal.

With a lack a ideas and solid passing Crostyx sank to a second successive defeat which served as a painful reminder that whilst they are able to compete in the league they need to show more resilience in defence and some originality in attack to better reflect the team’s abilities.

Next Thursday at 7pm Crostyx play Redbrige and Ilford 2.