Following recent EH Knockout Cup victories over Melton and Ipswich, the Adders Mens First team travelled to London to face West Hampstead in the competition semi final. Having never been beaten in two previous semi finals and with a final to be played at Lea Valley, the home of the 2012 Olympic Hockey Final, there was plenty at stake and to look forward to, for the Clubs Premier Mens team.
West Hampstead's spectators, grouped together pitch side, provided a vocal backdrop to every mis-stop or tackle made by the Adders in the first few minutes, but the Adders own travelling supporters gave the same back to the home side's players as both teams struggled to settle their nerves.
Slowly the visitors started to gain a grip on midfield as Ben Matthews and Martin Webb posed all kinds of threats to the opposition defence. However it was the West Hampstead who took the lead after only 8 minutes, as a home side forward appeared on the base line behind the Adders defenders. He controlled the ball when it looked like it was going out of play and turned it into the danger area in front of goal. It was scrambled home by a delighted West Hampstead forward, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Their delight was short lived, however, as the Adders struck back four minutes later. Ben Matthews, who ended up as player of the match, picked up a shoulder height rebound from the goalkeeper and smashed it into the back of the net. This time it was the away teams supporters opportunity to make some noise - and they took it!
Two minutes later the Adders were in front and the home side's supporters fell silent. This time it was Cameron Hobbs who received a pass from his brother Jack and calmly slid the ball home past the advancing keeper. At this point the Adders were totally dominating the proceedings with the midfield creating several chances with just the final touch eluding the eager Adders forwards.
Keelan Ford, who had made a five hour journey to play and Tom Anderson provided tough tackling and hard graft in the Adders midfield to thwart efforts from the home side's midfielders to get their team into the game. As the match was reaching half time West Hampstead found themselves on level terms once more when a poor clearance from a penalty corner once again led to a scruffy goal and then a loud cheer from the home side spectators.
As the half time whose blew both teams would be pleased with their performance, but the Adders knew that if they had converted their chances that the game would have been out of reach of the home side by now.
The second half was a repeat of the first with the Adders pressing hard but failing to take their chance and the home side always looking dangerous on the break. The Adders defenders showed confidence on the ball as they defended comfortably and pushed forward with purpose. Ethan Connor, Henry Kirk and Matt Hilton constantly attacked on the flanks and were always posing threats to the West Hampstead defenders. Lloyd Crowley was his usual 'calm under pressure' self and Arran Hall, straight from his night shift to the pitch, provided strength and speed at the heart of the defence when it was needed.
The game looked like it was heading for penalty strokes despite a number of great efforts on goal from Matt Taylor, skipper Josh Wagg and 16 year old Andrew Currie.
However with five minutes of the game remaining the Adders scored, what was to be, the winning goal. Matt Taylor won a penalty corner when he diverted the ball on to a defenders foot. Lloyd Crowley injected the ball with precision. Ben Matthews stopped it cleanly and Martin Webb fired the ball in to give the Adders the lead.
There was delight from both players and Adders supporters who only had to see out the last five minutes of the game to set up a final against Clifton Robinsons from Bristol.
Then came the last throw of the dice from the home side as they removed their goalie and replaced him with another outfield player. Now it was all out defence from the Adders as West Hampstead threw everything at the visitors. The drama was not yet over as their all out attack led to a short corner on the final whistle. All of the home side gathered around the edge of the D as five Adders defenders lined up on their own goal line in the hope that they could keep the ball out. The injection came in perfectly and the striker drag flicked the ball to the top corner of the net. Everyone watched as the ball sped goalwards, then the Adders keeper, Will Murphy reached out with his right hand and deflected the ball over the side line and out of play to signal the end of the game much to the delight of the travelling fans and the Adders team.
A truly deserved but hard earned victory for the Adders and well played West Hampstead who never gave up. Now for the final on Sunday 4th May as Lea Valley against Clifton Robinsons.