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Loughborough Students vs Exeter
Loughborough Students finished their National League season with a defeat against fellow student team Exeter University in a thrilling match on England's south coast.
Exeter came into the game knowing that a victory would see them finish no worse than 9th and thereby avoid automatic relegation. Their survival mentality was clear to see at the start of the match as the hosts won a penalty corner in the first minute but were unable to convert. As Loughborough grew into the game turnovers became a common sight as both teams looked to counter attack quickly. After 10 minutes Loughborough had their best spell of the first half as they pinned Exeter inside their 25 for the best part of 10 minutes. Exeter defended resolutely however and Loughborough were limited to a single penalty corner that Richard Smith cracked off the left hand post. Having weathered the Loughborough attack Exeter took the game to their visitors and scored three goals in 10 minutes to take a commanding first half lead. Loughborough will reflect that they should have dealt with all three situations better but came out of half time knowing there was still plenty to play for.
From the second half push back Loughborough failed to deal with an aerial that after a passage of play led to an early penalty corner for Exeter. The home side again converted to add to their substantial lead. From this point Loughborough began to improve their level of play and cause more problems for Exeter. After 47 minutes some fast passing and good movement finished with Steven Hunter scoring past the Exeter keeper. Loughborough then won a series of penalty corners that again saw Richard Smith crash another drag flick off the post and have another shot cleared off the line. As Loughborough continued to push for a way back into the game they were reduced to ten men as Stuart Loughrey was yellow carded for what appeared to be minimal contact with an Exeter player. Loughborough were unable to add to their tally when down to ten men but did pull their goalkeeper as they tried to maintain pressure all over the pitch. As Loughborough returned to their full compliment of players so did their control of the game. After 64 minutes Smith scored a drag flick high to the keepers' left to add momentum to the Loughborough comeback. Despite more constant pressure Exeter were able to keep Loughborough at bay until the last minute of the game when Smith added a second drag flick which saw the game finish 4-3 to Exeter.
The final result proved disappointing for the visitors who showed that when they play at their best they can compete with anybody in the Premier League but were punished for periods of slack play.
Loughborough finished the season in 6th place in the Premier League, 4 points outside the play-off places.
Loughborough Students vs Southgate
A threadbare Loughborough Students side was defeated by Southgate on Sunday as the Students European play-offs push continued to falter.
Loughborough entered the game only able to name 14 outfield players with injuries and international call-ups limiting the squad size. With Southgate looking to put some breathing space between themselves and the drop zone a hard fought match was anticipated. With less than an hour till push back the prospect of a postponement also looked a possibility with large puddles of water forming across the pitch, however the constant rain eased just in time.
The game began evenly with both teams putting men behind the ball but after only 9 minutes Southgate blew the game open. On two occasions in a single minute a Southgate player managed to find themselves unmarked in the Loughborough circle and converted. A further penalty corner goal after 15 minutes put the hosts even further into the lead. The flurry of goals thrilled the home support, who watched safely protected from the bitter conditions on the clubhouse balcony. From this point onwards Loughborough began to seize the initiative and take greater control of the game. However, despite working the ball into good areas they were unable to seriously test the Southgate goalkeeper as the host's 3-0 lead lasted till half time.
Loughborough raised the tempo at the start of the second half and began to make more opportunities. A penalty corner converted by the reliable Andrew Bull after 45 minutes representing just reward for a period of near constant pressure. Loughborough's domination of possession continued throughout the second half with the ball rarely ever leaving the Southgate half. Loughborough worked the ball well across the pitch however dogged defending from the entire Southgate team limited the Students to a number of penalty corner opportunities which were on target but not enough to beat the Southgate rear guard. With just under 10 minutes to play Loughborough pulled their goalkeeper for an eleventh outfield player but were still unable to find a way round the Southgate team who were happy to defend their lead deep in their own half. With less than a minute to go Southgate capitalised on a slow pass across the back to add an empty net goal and complete a 4-1 victory.
Loughborough's final home league game of the season takes place this coming Sunday against local rivals Beeston, 2pm start.
David Condon
"We gave the result to Southgate rather than making them earn it. But we showed character to dominate the second half"
Andrew Bull
"It's a shame we couldn't convert our chances but we were our own worst enemies in the first half and that has ultimately cost us the game"
Loughborough Students vs Surbiton HC
Despite taking an early lead, Loughborough Students lost out to Surbiton on Sunday afternoon. Andrew Bull scored for the Students after only 2 minutes but two goals in each half, including two for International James Tindall, saw Surbiton run out easy winners.
Both teams came into the game in joint 4th position in the Premier Division table and looking to continue to push for a place in the Championship playoffs. Having suffered a 4-0 defeat to the visitors earlier in the season, Loughborough were also looking to prove that result was a one-off and to exact some revenge. They started brightly and after a minute of near constant pressure won a penalty corner that was clinically drag flicked by full back Bull high into the roof of the net. Loughborough continued to press the Surbiton defence at any opportunity however the visitors began to increase their ball possession and chances. Surbiton won a number of penalty corners, none of which they could convert, but they soon found a breakthrough when quick play down the right hand side finished with Ben Tibble scoring uncontested from the penalty spot. Soon after Tindall scored his first of the match, firing an unstoppable shot past McGregor in the home goal which gave Surbiton a 2-1 half time lead. The Students cause was further hindered by an ankle injury to Chris Griffiths that ruled him out of the 2nd half.
The game continued in a similar fashion in the 2nd half with Loughborough looking to pressurise the Surbiton defenders and play quick attacking hockey. Although working the ball into good areas, they couldn't find the final pass to add to their tally. The game remained highly competitive and the points up for grab until the 60th minute when two quick fire Surbiton goals from Ashcroft and Tindall put the game beyond doubt. With other results going their way Surbiton finished the day in sole possession of 4th place with the Students in 6th. Loughborough play 3 of their remaining 4 games away from home beginning with a trip to Southgate next Sunday.
BUCS Semi final preview- Loughborough vs Exeter
Loughborough Students take on the University of Exeter in the pick of tomorrow's BUCS Championship semi-finals. With both teams currently in the National Premier Division, a game high on both quality and intensity is expected. The teams meet for the third time in three years in the competition with Loughborough having beat Exeter at the same stage last year 2-1 on their way to winning the BUCS title.
The Students come into the game on good form having won twice in the National League this weekend. The squad shows one change from their quarter-final victory over Nottingham Trent with goal keeper Harry Gibson added to take the squad up to its full compliment of 16. Exeter however also enter the game in ominous form. They have won all their BUCS games in the Southern Premier league this year and beat Nottingham University 7-0 in their quarter final. The teams have met once this season with Loughborough running out 5-2 winners in the National League.
University of Exeter v Loughborough Students BUCS Championship Semi-Final, 10am pb Highfield Sports Club, Nottingham
Loughborough vs Reading HC
A tough away trip to European representatives Reading faced Loughborough on Sunday. The teams had drawn 1-1 previously in the season, despite the programme claim that Reading had won all 3 points, and a competitive game was expected. Loughborough again started well and scored after 7 minutes through Sam Spencer. Reading's best first half chances came from two penalty corners but both were well saved by Harry Gibson in the visitors' goal. The game exploded in both action and controversy in the second half as Loughborough's Chris Griffiths saw two yellows and therefore a "technical red card" after 45 and 55 minutes. Reading also had a player yellow carded after 55 minutes as the game became both physical and scrappy. While Reading tried to use their man advantage with quick passing across the pitch, Loughborough were looking dangerous on the counter attack and managed to break through the Reading defence for a second time with George Torry scoring after 65 minutes. As Reading went all out to try and get back in the game their captain Richard Springham was yellow carded after 68 minutes, which resulted in both teams finishing the game with 10 players. The Students battled hard and never gave up as they managed to close out the game and take all 3 points and 4 out of 6 from the two games between the sides this season.
The weekend's results allow the Students to look up the table and continue to push for the European places. They take their good form into a game with Surbiton at home next Sunday.
Defender Richie Dawson-Smith:
"We pride ourselves in our ability to perform in both games on double header weekends, and it was so important for us to continue that tradition this weekend with so much at stake. The team did not disappoint and the work put in by everyone was brilliant and in the end was the difference I think."
Midfielder Henry Weir:
"It wasn't a perfect game today but we put in a very gutsy performance. This weekend has proven that we can compete with any team in this league as long as we play as fiercely as we have done for the last two days".