Seven Heaven for Mens 1s against Berkswell and Balsall Common HC

Aylesbury welcomed Berkswell and Balsall Common Hockey Club to Aylesbury for their second round match in the England Hockey Men’s Vase. Aylesbury were without Matt Kiely on Junior coaching duty and Ben Ireson who received a nasty hand injury the day before against British Airways. In their place, Chris McIntyre returned from work commitments and Ben Woodford had a day off from coaching the ladies 1s to pick up his stick and play his first game of the season.

Aylesbury started the game at lighting pace and were 1-0 up in the first two minutes. Aylesbury’s early pressure put Berkswell on the defensive straight away and a foot in the D won Aylesbury a short corner. Aylesbury flick specialist Marc Hignell who had recovered from his horrendous hangover the day before at BA to slot a low lick into the bottom right corner of the goal. Within five minutes Aylesbury had doubled their lead. Paul Gregory beat to players and crossed the line of the D to strike the ball across the goal for Austin Greenlee to put in at the back post.

Aylesbury’s third came from good work from Ben Woodford to find Paul Gregory open on top of the D once more and again a shot across goal this time went straight in for Gregory to score his second goal of the season. This was quickly followed by Aylesbury’s fourth. A ball into D looked to be a wasted chance but Marc Hignell came out of nowhere to slot the ball passed the BBCHC keeper for his second of the game. Just before half time, Jake Hodgins added a fifth for Aylesbury. Half time came with Aylesbury having a five goal lead.

Second half began with BBCHC playing to regain some pride and a laps in concentration from the Aylesbury defence gave them just that. A BBCHC forward got between two forward and touched the ball passed an oncoming Stephen Best in goal to make the score 5-1. Soon after this, Aylesbury won another penalty corner and Marc Hignell completed his hat-trick with another drag flick. BBCHC pulled another goal back with good word driving down the base line and the ball across the goal was deflected into his own net by Josh Tomlinson. Aylesbury then completed the scoring from another short corner that was slipped to Ben Woodford who smashed the ball into the bottom left corner for Aylesbury seventh and final goal.

Aylesbury proceed to the next round and have and away drawn against Boots Hockey Club in Nottingham on February 7th.