Hockey: Hounslow take half-chances

Hounslow. . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Trojans . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

IT might have been different had Trojans not wasted two early opportunities in this Pizza Express National League First Division hockey game at Dukes Meadows yesterday. As it was, Hounslow, with Jon Potter dominant in midfield, accepted half-chances and were worthy winners.

Hounslow made an early assault down the right but Adrian Hart hit the crossbar for the visitors in the second minute and then set up Julian Archer for what could have been a goal.

Cashing in on these let-offs, David Knapp sent Rob Thompson away to lay the ball off for Rob Crutchley to open Hounslow's account in the eighth minute. A reverse-stick pass by Knapp gave Thompson Hounslow's second.

Good midfield play from Paul Tubband Richard Roberts created a number of half- chances for Trojans, but it was Hounslow who went further ahead 12 minutes after the interval. Crutchley sent Nick Gordon, who had just appeared on the wing for Knapp, through for a well-worked goal.

Within a minute Archer took advantage of indifferent goalkeeping to pull a goal back for Trojans after Hounslow's defence had stood off.

With Hounslow reduced to 10 men following the temporary suspension of Dave Hacker for arguing, the league champions might have been excused for playing safe. Not so. A good rob by Guy Fordham in midfield passed on to Gordon saw Thompson diving to touch home the winger's cross for number four.

The game ended with Steve Paris making a fine one-handed save from Fordham, put through by Potter.

Hounslow: J Barrow; G Fordham, S Hazlitt (capt), P Bolland, R McQuillan; D Hacker, J Potter, J Rees; R Crutchley, R Thompson, D Knapp. Substitutes used: M Williamson, N Gordon.

Trojans: S Paris; M Ellis, M Tubb; M Baker (capt), P Tubb, R Roberts; A Hart, O Lane- Smith, G Jackson, W Shepherd, J Archer. Substitutes used: C Wooten, M Watts, C Christofhelm.

Umpires: A McQuater and A Noyes.