Men's 2s knocked out of Tier 4 cup

Crawley welcomed Addiscombe to Hazelwick for their last 16 tie in the England Hockey Championships.

As last year’s beaten finalists Crawley were hopeful of another cup run this year against a good Addiscombe side that they beat in a tough match last year.

Crawley had the perfect start, Scott Gibbons expertly deflecting home Karl Bass’ pinpoint ball into the D. 1-0 to CHC

Crawley’s exciting start continued, Joe Radoux and Liam Mulcahy both looking lively, with the latter finding Gibbons in space again and the skipper making no mistake; his reverse sweep shot going in through the keeper’s legs. 2-0 to CHC

Addiscombe played some good hockey and they halved the deficit with a savage reverse hit shot for the top D. 2-1

The opening 15 minutes had been breathless, but suddenly the game was turned on its head when an Addiscombe player went through the back of Johnny Reigate.

Reigate got up and squared up in retaliation and what was little more than handbags was viewed by the umpires as a red card offence; with the opposition player receiving a yellow card for his sins.

A flurry of cards followed, primarily from players’ reactions; Matt Park and Indy Saraw being sin-binned

Back in play, the game was breathless. Every Crawley player should be proud of their efforts. The midfield rotated regularly with Mulcahy, Radoux, Rob Payne, Will Doherty, James Fuller, Nick Bennett and man-of-the-match Bass all putting in shifts to ensure the player deficit did not cost Crawley.

Unfortunately Crawley found themselves on the end of another harsh umpiring decision. Ian Berry’s back stick at the top of the D seemed worthy of a penalty flick, which Addiscombe converted to equalise.

2-2 at half time and at the break Gibbons asked for cool heads and hard work and that’s exactly what he got.
The backline of Berry, Saraw, Park and Priyesh Patel stood firm and keeper Lewis Cordingley was excellent when called upon.
Going the other way, Bass’ flicks where causing problems for the defence. Gibbons twice carving out opportunities from them. The first he sent crashing an inch over the bar and the other was well saved by the keeper.

Somehow the game remained scoreless in the second half and so it was left up to penalty flicks to decide the day.

• Bass saw the first flick saved
• Addiscombe scored, before Fuller converted for 1-1.
• Then Cordingley reproduced his heroics from last year’s semi final; saving to give Crawley a lifeline.
• Unfortunately they couldn’t capitalise with Gibbons’ tame flick easily kept out.
• The next Addiscombe flick was wide, Park held his nerve to give Crawley the lead only for Addiscombe to reply in kind.
• Radoux remained cool and converted but so did the opposition to bring up sudden death.
• Addiscombe now went first and scored, Fuller again showed nerves of steel to keep Crawley in it.
• But after Addiscombe scored yet again, Radoux could only hit the post to see Crawley crash out in the cruelest of fashions.

With their cup dreams dashed, Crawley’s focus can return to the league where they sit second, 6 points clear of the chasing pack.

Crawley Squad: Gibbons, Cordingley, Berry, Patel, Saraw, Park, Bennett, Bass, Reigate, Radoux, Doherty, Mulcahy, Payne, Fuller.