Hockey: Redbacks create history

The Redbacks beat Peel 3-2 in extra time to create history for the club by winning its first Challenge Cup in the Willow Bridge Hockey League.

Picture by Chris Bartle: Winning goalscorer Nick Gerrard drives into the scoring circle

The cup is played midseason between the two top teams.

Peel applied pressure in the first half, with the Redbacks finding it difficult to play their own game, before Peel won a short corner that was converted.

The Redbacks quickly responded, with Nick Gerrard receiving the ball out wide, beating two Peel players and driving to the base line just inside the scoring circle.

The ball was deflected by a Peel defender past his own goalie.

The second half started with a similar pattern of play until Shaun Ford managed to get himself free at the top of the scoring circle, receive a pass and win the short corner.

This was converted with a strong drag flick from Christian Oskam.

Inside the last 10 minutes, Peel won a short corner, which they converted to level the scores at 2-2 and force the game into extra time, where a variation to the Redbacks’ normal short corner baffled Peel’s defence, leaving Gerrard an easy flick into the top of the net to seal victory.