HAVING been made to wait a week, a glut of goals finally confirmed Penarth Hockey Club 1st XI's promotion from De Cymru & The Marches 1 - and they were joined in celebration by the 2nd XI, who capitalised on an unexpected result elsewhere to all but cement their own ascension in the GoCrea8 Hockey League.

Penarth 8 - Bristol University 'B' 2

Penarth welcomed Bristol University to Stanwell School in the penultimate round of fixtures in the 2015/16 season, knowing that they still needed a victory to secure promotion, as well as maintaining their 100 per cent home record.

After three weeks of fielding limited personnel, the Bears were finally close to full strength for this fixture, with Richard John and Sam Williamson welcomed back into the heart of defence after injury lay-offs and player-coach Ben Croxall returned to the midfield after a well-earned break.

Although the home side were without the considerable attacking threat of Chris Baker - who is on the road to recovery after a successful operation on his injured hand - and Jonny Moore, who will be able to make a long-anticipated return from suspension in the final fixture, a strong defence and midfield, combined with the club's three leading goalscorers, ensured that they went into the game with confidence.

The match opened in perfect fashion, with Penarth again able to make their trademark fast start and open the scoring in the first few minutes, with David Joyce finding space at the top of the D before turning and lashing the ball high into the net. The hosts continued on the front foot, but were unable to find a second goal allowing the University side to remain in the hunt and a constant threat on the counter-attack.

Having failed to convert a number of chances Penarth were made to pay for their wastefulness, as the students finally converted a chance after breaking away at pace and in numbers. With an attacker unmarked in the D, goalkeeper Adam Putt was unable to replicate his earlier saves and could only watch as a reverse stick shot left him helpless.

After conceding the equaliser, Penarth looked uncharacteristically frustrated and started to force the play, looking for long balls and trying to play through the opposition. Just as it looked like the league leaders were losing their cool and letting the occasion get the better of them, however, their quality finally shone through, with two quick-fire goals settling the nerves.

First, Croxall showed some unbelievable skill at the top of the D to create space for himself before smashing a reverse stick shot passed a motionless 'keeper and, having regained possession straight from the restart, the unmarked Laith El-Khatib rifled the ball into the top corner seconds before the half-time whistle sounded.

Penarth used the break to make some tactical changes, looking to contain the counter-attack and refocus minds with the understanding that the visitors had had more chances than their two-goal deficit suggested and could easily find a way back into the game.

Right from the restart, however, the subtle changes paid off as Penarth began to exercise greater control over the game and started to close the net on their opponents. With the pressure mounting on the Bristol goal, it wasn’t long before the home side grabbed a fourth goal, Croxall once again showing his skills as he mesmerised the defence before slipping the ball to Joyce at the back post.

With one hand on promotion, Penarth started to relax and enjoy the occasion, playing some excellent free flowing hockey which would soon reflect on the scoreboard. El-Khatib and Croxall bagged a brace apiece, both expertly finishing reverse stick shots before Joyce completed a hat-trick to continue his impressive scoring ratio of two goals per game. Finally, in a near carbon copy of Joyce’s earlier goal, Croxall would once again hypnotise his opponent before this time slipping the ball to Richard Baker at the back post.

The Bears were perhaps guilty of celebrating a little too soon as they took their foot off the gas and allowed the visitors to score a consolation goal right at the death, leaving the final score 8-2 in their favour. Little was going to dampen Penarth spirits, however, as an elated club could finally celebrate promotion and head into the final round of fixtures as favourites for the De Cymru & The Marches 1 title.

Goalscorers: David Joyce (3), Ben Croxall (2), Laith El-Khatib (2), Richard Baker

Penarth 'A' 10 - Llanishen & Caerphilly 'B' 1

The 2nd XI came into their final home game of the season on the back of five straight victories which had seen them climb back into second place in the standings, and received an unexpected boost before pushback with the news that promotion rivals Llanishen & Caerphilly 'A' had fallen to a shock defeat at home to Whitchurch.

This meant that, due to their already superior goal difference, a win would all but cement a top two finish and, providing there was no horrendous reversal of fortune in the final week, another promotion for the Bears to celebrate.

With captain Matt Birch again absent, it fell to James Davies to take the armband for the second game in a row but, with few changes to the line-up, Penarth were in confident mood, knowing that they had beaten their opposition 6-0 and 12-0 in their two previous encounters. Despite that, however, the away side started brightly and were able to frustrate their hosts for the first five minutes.

When Penarth finally got hold of the ball and turned it into meaningful possession, they started to play the sort of hockey which had provided the foundations for their impressive run of form, and it finally paid off as veteran striker Dave Watkins applied a smart finish at the back post.

The lead was doubled soon after, as James Kidby picked up the ball in the visitors' D and produced a classy finish high into the net. With momentum clearly on their side, Penarth added four more goals before half-time, with Tom Parkinson scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute and Watkins and Dave Kidby adding to their seasonal tallies.

The second half saw more of the same, with Penarth continuing to create chances but, having failed to convert any, it was Llanishen & Caerphilly who got the next goal against the run of play. A rare excursion into the Penarth half saw the away team win a penalty corner, which was duly dispatched for the first goal Penarth had conceded in over six hours of hockey.

It was not to be the start of a comeback, however, and, perhaps stung back into action by both the strike and news that title rivals Swansea University has extended their goal difference advantage by hammering Neath 6-0, Penarth finally found the back of the net.

Four further goals were added before the final whistle, spread between Watkins, Sam Docherty, Jamie Davison and James Kerr-Smith, the final pair converting late penalty corners to make the final score 10-1 in the home side's favour.

Despite still sitting second in the De Cymru 2 table, Penarth have their fate in their own hands as they travel to league leaders Swansea University this weekend knowing that a victory will secure a deserved league title.

Goalscorers: Dave Watkins (4), James Kidby, Tom Parkinson, David Kidby, Sam Docherty, Jamie Davison, James Kerr-Smith

Gwent 'B' 2 - Penarth 'B' 1

The Bees travelled to Cwmbran for an evening push back buoyed by the news of the first and second teams' success and hoping that the fortune might carry over as they looked to improve on third place in De Cymru 3.

Encounters with the "Men of Gwent" had already proved closely fought this season, and the third meeting was to prove no different, with the home side sneaking the honours in a typically tight game.

The Bees edged the first half, continuing the good play from the previous week to lead 1-0 at the break with a rare goal from the rampaging Ian Smith. However, rather than pressing home their advantage, Penarth let Gwent back into the game through basic errors and a loss of shape and, despite the efforts of debutant and man-of-the-match James Erasmus, the home side deservedly equalised midway through the second period.

Just as the game looked like petering out into a draw, the lateness of the hour finally seemed to take effect as Penarth were caught napping with minutes remaining, and Gwent grabbed a somewhat fortunate winner to finally end any hopes, however remote, that the Bees may have had of emulating the senior teams in securing promotion.

Already assured of third place in De Cymru 3, the Bees entertain runaway leaders Whitchurch this Saturday hoping to become the only team to take points off the champions-elect this season.

Goalscorers: Ian Smith

All three Penarth sides will be in action on the final weekend of the GoCrea8 league season, with the 2nd XI undoubtedly involved in the marquee game as they go head-to-head with Swansea University for the De Cymru 2 title.

The 1st XI, meanwhile, must win at Cardiff & Met if they are to avoid falling at the last in their bid for divisional glory, while the 3rds close out their season by hosting table-topping Whitchurch.

Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. Training takes place on Wednesdays at Stanwell School, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7.15pm and 8.15pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact either player-coach Ben Croxall (b_croxall20@yahoo.co.uk) or club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.