The Northwood 1st hockey team continued their winning momentum when they beat Hilton College 2 – 0 on Saturday.
Northwood dominated the majority of the first half and created some good scoring chances but struggled to break down the solid Hilton defence. Some enterprising play from young striker Kyle Rawling resulted in him smashing a reverse stick shot at goal but the Hilton keeper was up to the task. Northwood continued to pile on the pressure but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Northwood eventually made the breakthrough when Ighsaan Manuel fired a rocket drag flick into the bottom corner of the Hilton goal at their first penalty corner.
Hilton’s best chance of the half came when they were awarded a penalty corner after the ball hit a Northwood foot in the circle. Hilton College looked to have drawn level when the first shot beat the Northwood keeper but was saved brilliantly on the line by Bradley McNally.
The second half saw Hilton College come out firing and Northwood showed some defensive jitters early on. Hilton created a good scoring chance but the striker missed the target. Hilton created another opportunity when they forced a penalty corner but Northwood keeper Garick Goldman pulled off an outstanding save from the resulting drag flick.
Hilton threw everything into attack in the last five minutes to try get a result and Northwood caught them on the counter when a brilliant overhead from Cody van Breemen found speedy striker Ntobeko Sibisi who went around the Hilton keeper and calmly slotted the ball into an open goal to give the visitors the 2 – 0 victory.
Photo Credit to Grant Motley, Northwood Press Club
