After an enforced mid-season break due to many students enjoying themselves in South Africa, Team BTC Hockey returned to action hosting Truro & Penwith College in an AoC Sport mixed league match.

Team BTC started the game brightly, controlling the early exchanges but without ever really threatening the Truro defence.  However, the deadlock was broken by Truro with a devastating counter attack.  Losing possession cheaply in their own half Truro took full advantage, a strong ball carry in to the Team BTC ‘D’ was expertly finished by the unmarked Truro attacker to give them a 1-0 lead. The goal gave Truro the confidence to take the upper hand in the game and they went on the hunt for a second goal and came close several times. Vaughan Downend was busy in the Team BTC goal making several smart and important saves to keep the score line at just 1-0.

As the half time drew closer Team BTC found some momentum going forward, pressing the ball well high up the pitch and not allowing Truro to play forward and suddenly counter attack opportunities were available to them. Willow Hobbs and Ben McElroy went close to getting the equaliser.  Finally the goal came through Nikita Cernikovs.  Winning the ball in midfield a quick counter attack led to Willow Hobbs supplying the pass for Nikita to apply a smart reverse sweep finish in to the corner for 1-1.

At half time Team BTC focused on what they were doing well to allow them to find further scoring opportunities.  The players took ownership and set objectives for the second half.

However, Truro took the upper hand in a scrappy first 10 minute period after half time, neither side could settle in to a rhythm and the game became a battle in the midfield.  Millie Warren and Will Hopkins screened the defence well and made some crucial tackles to secure possession but Team BTC couldn’t get out of the midfield to create any valuable opportunities at goal.  As the half settled Truro found themselves scoring opportunities, Vaughan Downend found himself busy again but couldn’t prevent Truro scoring again, a loose ball picked up in the D by a Truro attacker was brilliantly hit on the reverse sick and flew in to the net.

To their credit Team BTC showed grit and determination for the rest of the game throwing caution to the wind in the search of an equaliser.  Nikita Cernikovs was having a brilliant game upfront causing problems when he had chances to run with the ball showing fantastic 3D skills to eliminate players, but he sadly couldn’t find the pass or opportunity to score.  A couple of short corners came and went and still BTC were 2-1 down.  Up steps Will Hopkins, receiving the ball on the 25m line he drove in to the Truro D and swept the ball home for 2-2, setting up a great final 10 minutes of play.  To the credit of both teams they went looking for the winner and it soon became a game of counter attacks and who would be most effective.  Truro went close with a couple of short corners which were well defended by Team BTC, Ellis Lake making a smart save to a goal bound shot but it was Will Hopkins again who would make the difference.  Similar to his first goal he was able to eliminate a couple of players and score in to the bottom corner giving Team BTC the lead with just 5 minutes left.

The final 5 minutes were without action, Truro pushed hard and had the chance to equalise with the last play of the game, time up and a short corner.  Fortunately for Bridgwater the pushout wasn’t accurate and Tara Russell was able to pick up the loose ball and clear it to give Team BTC a brilliant win.  Beaten heavily in the away fixture the performance showed the progression the group have made, showing much more on pitch intelligence, tactical awareness and grit to find a way to win.

In his final home match before returning to Bournemouth University to finish his degree next year, Assistant Coach Bayley Chatwin had this to say, “This is a great way to end the year with Team BTC, I have really enjoyed the year and seeing the progress the team has made has been awesome. Fingers crossed those staying on next year will improve further to make Team BTC even stronger.”