Whitley Bay & Tynemouth Hockey Club

WBTHC Vets v Sunderland Vets

WBTHC Vets faced local rivals Sunderland Vets in a rare home fixture in the first round of the England Hockey Masters Over-40s Plate. On a cold, bright day at The Parks, both sides were looking for the victory which would enable them to make progress in the competition.

WBTHC made a good start, dominating the early exchanges with a free-flowing style which had the Sunderland defence under pressure. Despite their superiority the Sunderland keeper was rarely tested and the visitors were let off the hook. After ten minutes or so, Sunderland settled and began to mount attacks on the WBTHC goal. Some stout defending kept them at bay and, sometimes fortuitously, the WBTHC goal wasn't breached. Having resisted that pressure, the home side were able to re -launch their own attacks but the goal they needed remained elusive. The first half continued in that see-saw fashion with both sides striving but failing to stamp their authority on the game.

The second half began much the same as the first with the home side piling into the opposition half looking for a goal. Chances were created but went begging until the deadlock was broken by James Lowry. He calmly slotted the ball home after some sustained pressure in the Sunderland D.

Predictably Sunderland doubled their efforts in search of the equaliser. It needed some outstanding work from Thomson and Butler at the heart of the WBTHC defence and keeper Ridding between the posts to keep the visitors at bay. A succession of penalty corners gave WBTHC a nervy last ten minutes but they held firm to emerge victorious.

After a hard fought match both sides probably felt they deserved to win, it was WBTHC who go into the next round, an away draw (predictably) against Keswick Vets to be played on the 5th February 2012.