With back to back games this weekend, the Gloucester junior Panthers hockey team had their work cut out for them.
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On Saturday (June 30), they faced off against leaderboard favourites, Chatham and, like the last time they faced off against them, it was a tightly contested match.
The game started in Gloucesters' favour as Justin Battams got a cross off to Ryan Beggs on the right side who then fed it back in to the centre to convert the goal.
Chatham were quick to respond not long after with a goal of their own.
The backline left a bit too much room behind them to allow some strikers through. The team were able to recover quickly, as they have all season. They have never let up throughout any of their matches and often become more determined to throw play back at their opposition which they did again. Hardworking centre striker, Dean Germon, was able to create a play with Toreen Denyer on the left side and back in to the teams other centre striker, Justin Battams to convert their second goal.
Again Chatham came back in reply with a goal of their own to level the game.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Jonas De Angelis found himself in the midst of some clever passing from the Gloucester team to pick up on a loose ball and throw it in to the back of the net. It was a tense final ten minutes as both teams rallied back and fort to get the upper hand. The Panthers were able to hang on to their lead to win with a 3-2 scoreline. Play of the day went to Justin Battams
Their second match, on Sunday (July 1) was a more relaxed match against Wingham.
It gave the team a chance to experiment a little with positions to give the players a fuller understanding of each others' roles.
This, despite some adjustment period and confused placements, didn't dampen the scoreline any as the team were again able to show that the most important aspect of their play, was their teamwork.
Nick Maslen played a great match in centre half directing play and Max Todd, despite his own adjustment period stepped up to his role in the forward position.
Goals went to Justin Battams (x4), Toreen Denyer (x2), Nick Maslen, Max Todd (x2), Jonas De Angelis and Dean Germon to finish with an 11-0 scoreline and Play of the Day going to Max Todd. The juniors now have a few weeks off for the holiday period and the York Cup in Tamworth in which Gloucester has a boys and girls team representing in.
They return to the field on the 28th July.
