AFTER four weeks of no hockey the Wagin men’s hockey team was back in action with a home game on Saturday against Williams.
With finals looming large in a few weeks Wagin knew they needed to get some points out of this game as Williams were just behind them on the ladder and looking to take Wagin’s spot in the top four.
The task was not to be made any easier with at least four regular players being unavailable, forcing some drastic changes to Wagin’s line-up.
The game got underway in brilliant sunshine with Wagin starting the brightest and were unlucky not to have an early goal.
It seemed it was going to be Kim Hough’s day out as he was everywhere in the forward line hassling the defenders and, with the help of Brenden Hall and Robert Rex, there were shots on goal firing everywhere.
Unfortunaly no-one could actually finish off the job and the scores remained tied at 0-0 at half time.
Wagin had clearly been dominated all half and had worked tirelessly without anything to show for their efforts.
The second half started the same way as the first with Wagin in control.
This time however Brenden Hall got a shot that beat the Williams goalie and even though Kim Hough tried his best impersonation of a seagull the ball ran over the line unaided giving Wagin some much needed relief.
Williams really upped their attack after the goal and forced Wagin to spend most of the time in defence trying to hold on to their slender lead.
The pressure got too much as Wagin suffered the indignity of scoring an own goal after a Williams player fired a shot at the goals only to see it hit the defender’s stick and fly past a helpless goalie into the top corner.
With the score one-all Wagin was forced into attack mode and the next 10 minutes saw all the players in Williams’ defensive half attacking the goals.
Luck was not on anybody’s side though as time after time shots went wide or there was some saves from a determined Williams’ goalie.
With the siren going, Wagin only had themselves to blame for not securing the win.
With so many chances to score goals in the game Wagin had the worst conversion rate seen all year.
Ben Kirk was outstanding filling in at full back as was his partner Xavier White who should have been named best on ground.
Joel Evans was again brilliantly in goals and was well supported by his half back line in Kevin Foale and Dale Lloyd who both stepped up in new positions.
Dwight Kellow worked tirelessly setting up the play down back and feeding the runners Kevin Beard and Tim Weaver who did not stop all day.
Wagin’s forward line dominated all day but were wasteful in front of the goals.
The final score was one all with Brenden Hall scoring Wagin’s goal.
Umpires’ best Kevin Foale, Kim Hough and Tim Weaver.
Wayne Byram who is one of the new policemen in town got his first taste of field hockey.
He played in numerous positions and showed that there is definitely some hockey skills there, he is welcome addition to the team and it is hoped he chooses to continue playing.
The Wagin hockey club would like to thank the Wagin Shire.
The oval really is in amazing condition and all their hard work is paying off as it has now gone from the worst to the best grass hockey field in the whole association.
It really is a pleasure to play on.
The next game is at 2.40pm in Narrogin against Olympics. Training is at 6pm on Thursday.
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