Railway Union Reports from Rotterdam - Updated
February 13, 2015
Game Three
Thanks to Helen Johnston for the reports from Rotterdam.
Game Two
Hero Kenny Carroll scored 4 goals in Railway's 5-4 win against Slovenian opponents HC Lipovci. Railway had earlier lost to Dutch champions and hosts Rotterdam 4-10, while H C Lipovci had lost to the Slovakian HC Senkvice 2-4, so a win was vital in this game to ensure a good pool finish. In a tentative opening half Lipovci were first to score from the first penalty corner, one of three Mesarics, Martin, scoring the Slovenian's goal. Railway replied 2 minutes later Kenny Carroll finding the net with a penalty corner drag. Railway went ahead soon after when Richie Forrest dispossessed the Slovenians and scored into an empty net. However, the lead was short lived when Robert Mesaric scored from the Slovenians 2nd corner. HT: Railway 2 H C Lipovci 2.Railway increased their lead in the second half when Kenny Carroll scored Railway's first corner of the second half. Lipovci equalised soon after when the 3rd Mesaric, Dominck scored from a corner. After a series of 3 attempts - first hits a foot, second is high save by the keeper, third is breaking the line - and some frayed tempers - Kenny Carroll scored Railway's 4th goal with a strong drag flick to the centre of the goal. Lipovci pushed forward for the equaliser and were rewarded with their 4th goal when Martin Mesaric scored off a rebound when Simon Thornton had made the initial save. The game was very tense in the last few minutes but Kenny Carroll broke the deadlock in the last minute surging forward from defence to score the winning goal. Full Time: Railway Union 5 (K Carrollx4, R Forrest) H C Lipovci 4 (M Mesaricx2, R Mesaric, D Mesaric).Railway now face the Slovakians H C Senkvice at 13.00 (12 noon Irish Time).
EHF Match Report - click here
Game One
Railway Union opened their Eurohockey Club Champions Challenge against the hosts, Rotterdam, with 2 of their players, Bjorn Kellerman and Timmo Kranstauber, fresh from their exploits in winning the Indoor World Cup with the Dutch national team. The lack of recent high level competition for Railway, in comparison to their hosts who have just finished their indoor season, was evident in the first seven minutes of the match when Railway found themselves 4 goals down. Kellerman scored Rotterdam's 1st goal from their opening play and Bas Campbell followed with another 2 minutes later. Railway's Nic Wilmshoefer took one for the team when he stopped Rotterdam's first penalty corner drag on the line with his body and Kellerman scored the resulting stroke. Thijs van Dam made it 4-0 for the hosts when he finished off an attacking move.
Railway then started to get the measure of the opposition, playing tight defensively to reduce Rotterdam's attacking options and breaking out sporadically to mount attacks. Miguel Villar scored Railway's first goal from such a move. The second part of the first half was a more even affair with both teams scoring a goal each - Rotterdam through Campbell again and Kenny Carroll for Railway from a low penalty corner drag flick. Simon Thornton in the Railway goal did particularly well at the end of the half, making a number of crucial saves when Railway were down to 4 players. HT: Railway 2 Rotterdam 5.
The statistics for the second half shows Railway had 6 corners to Rotterdam's 2 but that Railway scored 2 goals to Rotterdam's 5, 4 of which were from open play. In many aspects Railway matched Rotterdam in the 2nd half but as they attacked they left themselves open to counter attacking moves, conceding 4 goals in this fashion in a 4 minute spell in the middle of the half. Rotterdam's other goal in this half came in 2nd minute - a penalty corner converted by Kellerman. Railway's two goals came from penalty corners - one a flick from Mark English and the other by Miguel Villar from a penalty corner breakdown. FT: Railway 4 (M Villarx2, K Carroll, M English), Rotterdam 10 (B Campbellx2, B Kellermanx3, T van Dam, J Bakker, H Turkstra).
Speaking after the match, coach Paul O'Brien, said 'Once we adapted to the pace of Rotterdam we got ourselves into the game and competed well. Their counter attacking game caught us in the second half and this is something we will be working on in our next matches'. Railway face the Slovenian team, HC Lipovci at 17.50 (16.50 Irish time) this afternoon.
EHF match report - click here
EHF match report - click here
