Location: Pier Pavilion
Date: 07.01.06
On Saturday night, local side Mac’s Herne Bay United took on Swiss side Uttigen in their home leg of the European cup. A crowd of 400 packed into the Pier to witness what turned out to be a great game of roller hockey.
H.B.U. started the game strongly and with their first attack of the game, capt Simon Hosking scored to put United 1-0 up. The Swiss side were extremely physical, and they tried to out muscle the home side. HBU held firm, and for the next 10 minutes both sides had a number of chances to score. Dan Barton was having an outstanding game in the United goal, and was equal to everything the Swiss threw at him.
United were now starting to create more and more chances, with 10 minutes to go Brendan Barker was clean through on goal when a Swiss player took him out. Amazingly the ref waved play-on. A minute later, a bully (2 sticks) was called by the ref at the United end. The Uttigen player played the ball before the ref’s whistle, and HBU should have been awarded the free hit, the ref then made his 2nd controversial decision in the game, by awarding the freehit to the Swiss, who passed to the unmarked man in front of goal who finished well. The score was now 1-1.
Immediately from the restart Barker went clear once more, again he was fouled in the penalty area, and again the referee waved play-on. Uttigen counter-attacked and captain Hosking tackled the Swiss No.9 in the area, and the ref awarded the Swiss a penalty, which they scored to make it 1-2 with 7 minutes remaining in the half.
HBU did not let their heads drop, they responded excellently, and they created chance after chance for the next few minutes. With 4 minutes remaining Chris Espejo passed the ball from behind Uttigen’s goal to Neil Austin, who coolly slotted the ball home to make it 2-2.
With only a few minutes remaining in the half, there was still time for Dutch referee Ton Sorensen to turn down yet another clear cut penalty appeal from the home side, and award the visitors a penalty at the other end. This time Dan Barton saved it, at half time the score was 2-2.
