by sportswire4u.blogspot.com
JALANDHAR, MARCH 7
Star-sprinkled Sher-E-Punjab suffered a
jolt to their campaign when they lost to
Delhi Wizards 1-2 in their fourth match in the Bridgestone World Series Hockey
at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park here today. It was their first
defeat in four matches they have played so far.
Sher-e-Punjab had earlier beaten Chennai Cheetahs by 5-2 and routed Karnataka
Lions by 6-1. However they dropped a point to Pune Strykers as the teams played
a 3-3 draw. Still Sher-E-Punjab were leading the table with seven points on the
basis of their goal difference. Pune Strykers also have seven points to their
credit from three matches they have contested so far.
Delhi Wizards had began their programme
with a 3-2 win against Karnataka Lions. However they lost their next two
matches to Pune Strykers 1-3 and Chennai Cheetahs 2-5. Today they recorded
their second win and have so far garnered six points.
Shers dominated the field of play,
created enough chances inside the circle, but found wanting in the art of scoring. Delhi kept their citadel intact when the going was tough and then scored two surprise goals to emerge winners.
Coming back to the game in the second half, Delhi cancelled out the lone lead before Gurwinder Singh struck the match winner in the 63rd minute Mathew Hotchkis struck a field goal in the 22nd minute to put the Shers on top only to see Manoj Antil equalize 18 minutes later. Delhi played their hearts out, and went extra mile to safeguard their cage from the marauding Shers' forward.
Gurwinder Singh played a saviour role for Delhi with his timely stunner off a Shakeel Abbasi's feed eight minutes before the hooter. His forehand shot from top of the circle went in through goalie and a
defender.
Shers controlled the proceedings in the first half. Olympian Rajinder Senior's team moved like a well-oiled machine to tear apart the fragile Delhi defence at will. Mathews on the left wing and Mandeep
Antil on the other wing worked in tandem, entered the circle time and again only to see other forwards let the chances go abegging. Delhi's goalie Kamaldeep Singh showed enough athleticism and anticipation to thwart many goal-bearing moves.
Shers's shortcoming in the penalty corner drills too came to the fore in the spell. Sherss' coach Rajinder used all the arsenal in his disposal -- Olympian Harpal Singh, Junior International Harpreet Singh and and international star Didar Singh - but their best effort fell short. Vivek Singh and Manjeet Kullu supported goalie Kamaldeep Singh in frustrating them and managed to kep their citadel intact.
Shers famed forwards could have made the difference in the first half when they dominated. But it was not to be. Otherwise hawkish Deepak Thakur failed to tap in twice from close range while Gagan Ajit miscued his reverse shot against open cage much to the chagrin of the vast crowd that turned out to see home side's fire work.
The knowledgeable Jalandhar crowd need not wait for long to cherish the moment they were waiting for. Shers's untiring winger Matthews Hotchkis struck the eluding goal in the opening phase of the second
half ((20 min, 1-0). Matthews was till then contended in sending crosses and centres, and for a change was comfortably positioned at the centre of the circle to receive a diagonal pass.
Shers went for the lemon time with this narrow lead.
Delhi showed some urgency to come up and count after the side change. It tightened its midfield. Things started falling in line. Shers started committing mistakes and their harried shots posed no danger to
the visitors.
Shortly after Prabhjot missed a shot, fast and furious Manoj Antil changed the complexion of the game. Much against the run of play, the mercurial forward trapped a freehit from Vikram Kant, drew the goalie
out before sending his forehand home (41 min 1-1).
This equalizer spurred the Shers to change gear. Aggressive Shers pounded the Delhi's citadel relentlessly, but were found wanting in finish. In all, Shers wasted as many as ten penalty corners and twice
the number of shots at goal.
Manjit Kullu was the Player of the match.
Coming back to the game in the second half, Delhi cancelled out the lone lead before Gurwinder Singh struck the match winner in the 63rd minute Mathew Hotchkis struck a field goal in the 22nd minute to put the Shers on top only to see Manoj Antil equalize 18 minutes later. Delhi played their hearts out, and went extra mile to safeguard their cage from the marauding Shers' forward.
Gurwinder Singh played a saviour role for Delhi with his timely stunner off a Shakeel Abbasi's feed eight minutes before the hooter. His forehand shot from top of the circle went in through goalie and a
defender.
Shers controlled the proceedings in the first half. Olympian Rajinder Senior's team moved like a well-oiled machine to tear apart the fragile Delhi defence at will. Mathews on the left wing and Mandeep
Antil on the other wing worked in tandem, entered the circle time and again only to see other forwards let the chances go abegging. Delhi's goalie Kamaldeep Singh showed enough athleticism and anticipation to thwart many goal-bearing moves.
Shers's shortcoming in the penalty corner drills too came to the fore in the spell. Sherss' coach Rajinder used all the arsenal in his disposal -- Olympian Harpal Singh, Junior International Harpreet Singh and and international star Didar Singh - but their best effort fell short. Vivek Singh and Manjeet Kullu supported goalie Kamaldeep Singh in frustrating them and managed to kep their citadel intact.
Shers famed forwards could have made the difference in the first half when they dominated. But it was not to be. Otherwise hawkish Deepak Thakur failed to tap in twice from close range while Gagan Ajit miscued his reverse shot against open cage much to the chagrin of the vast crowd that turned out to see home side's fire work.
The knowledgeable Jalandhar crowd need not wait for long to cherish the moment they were waiting for. Shers's untiring winger Matthews Hotchkis struck the eluding goal in the opening phase of the second
half ((20 min, 1-0). Matthews was till then contended in sending crosses and centres, and for a change was comfortably positioned at the centre of the circle to receive a diagonal pass.
Shers went for the lemon time with this narrow lead.
Delhi showed some urgency to come up and count after the side change. It tightened its midfield. Things started falling in line. Shers started committing mistakes and their harried shots posed no danger to
the visitors.
Shortly after Prabhjot missed a shot, fast and furious Manoj Antil changed the complexion of the game. Much against the run of play, the mercurial forward trapped a freehit from Vikram Kant, drew the goalie
out before sending his forehand home (41 min 1-1).
This equalizer spurred the Shers to change gear. Aggressive Shers pounded the Delhi's citadel relentlessly, but were found wanting in finish. In all, Shers wasted as many as ten penalty corners and twice
the number of shots at goal.
Manjit Kullu was the Player of the match.

