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Roller Hockey News 1991-1992 Season
International Challenge Cups Tournament
Herne Bay United roller hockey club's International Challenge Cups Tournament at the weeekend proved an exciting sporting affair, but the event, held at the Pier Pavilion, could have done with more support, with just 400 spectators attending. Apex HBU finished runners-up to the Dutch team RC de Lichstad in the senior competion, while the United junior team finished third in the other competition. The Senior Challenge Cup competition suffered a serious setback when, at short notice, the Portugese team Oeiras withdrew, but the popular Sheffield Wildcats sportingly stepped in to fill the breach.
Apex HBU won their first game 5 - 3 against Maidstone; goals by Chris Espejo, Nick Barton (2), Philip McVey and Jamie Baker seeing them through after Maidstone struck back with three goals in four minutes.
In their next game, against Farnham, goals by Nick Barton, Espejo, Paul McVey (2) and Philip McVey and a shut-out by goalkeeper Dan Barton resulted in a 5 - 0 victory.
In the deciding game of the competition, Apex came up against the unbeaten skilful Dutch team Lichstad and went 4 - 0 down. The game got quite physicial and Sean Denman had to be called in to replace Dan Barton, who was blue-carded.
In the final game against Sheffield, Apex were trailing 2 - 1 with 10 minutes to go but goals by Nick Mills, Espejo (2), Jamie Baker and Philip McVey, gave them a 5 - 2 win and second place in the compeition behind winners Lichstad.
Apex HBU team: Sean Denman, Jamie Baker, Nigel Mills, Paul McVey, Chris Espejo, Philip McVey, Joel Hudson, Kevin Hoare, Nick Barton, Clive Bassom (capt) and Dan Barton.
In the Junior Challenge Cup, Herne Bay United Vipers saw their chances of retaining the cup evaporate when they squandered a 3 - 1 lead at half time of their opening match against Kent rivals Maidstone and went down 7 - 4. Although the Vipers looked well organised and defended well in the opening period, their goals through Simon Hosking, Neil Austin and a deflected own goal by a Maidstone defender were not enough. Vipers crumbled under Maidstone's second half pressure conceding six goals in a 12-minute collapse, with only one further goal added through Hosking.
Vipers were more determined and aggressive against St Omer from France and ran out comfortable 10 - 1 winners, the biggest score of the tournament. Scorers were Dendy Hudson (4), Hosking (3), Brendan Barker (2) and Nick Espejo. Hudson, who was unable to play in the earlier match added an exra dimension, so the team relished pleasing the large crowd with excellent hockey in a match which was expected to be a much closer contest.
Against Lichstad, Vipers gained a fiercly contested 5 - 4 victory, thanks to a second half hat-trick from Barker, and two goals by Hudson.
The tournament's outcome depended on the final match and host club Vipers could still win it by beating Oeiras of Portugal. Hosking opened the scoring and scored again seven minutes later with two excellent strikes to keep the Vipers 2 - 1 ahead after Oeiras had equalised. Oeiras made more goal-scoring chances and would have gained a significant advantage but for some fine saves from Vipers' goalkeeper Dave Garlick. Their pressure was reversed when they netted three times in the last four minutes before the change round with a 4 - 2 lead. Oeiras continued their scoring run early in the second half and added a further goal after five minutes to gain a formidable 6 - 2 advantage. But although Vipers found the speed of hockey and tactical skills difficult to cope with, they constantly rearranged their formations until midway through the second half the initiative changed and Oeiras found themselves under pressure. The Portugese goalkeeper made excellent saves from Vipers and hopes of an exciting climax were fading with less than five minutes to play, when Hudson unleashed a fierce flick shot from some distance which rattled the inside of the post over the goalie's left shoulder, ricocheted behind his head to the opposite post and came back out into play. This caused a great deal of concern in the Oeiras' camp and Vipers' pressure was rewarded with two goals from Hudson and one from Austin to bring the score to 6 - 5 in favour of the Portugese in a thrilling finale. Oeiras took advantage of the running clock by adopting some time wasting tactics to see out the last seconds and were obviously relieved when the final whistle was blown. Oeiras were the deserving winners and the presence of a Latin side was an unusual but welcome occurrence in English roller hockey tournaments.
Posted: 18 March 1992
Reported by: Herne Bay Times
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