PENARTH Hockey Club began the second half of the 2016-17 GoCrea8 League campaign in emphatic fashion with two important wins in the push for end of season promotion.

Penarth 6 - West Wilts 0

Fresh from the winter break Penarth kicked-off the business half of the season with a home tie against West Wilts, looking to pick up from some fine pre-Christmas form that saw them move back into promotion contention.

Penarth looked the stronger team in the opening exchanges but struggled to find their rhythm or passing range with the low winter sun shining directly into their faces. However, it was Penarth’s quality that finally shone through as they broke the deadlock midway through the first half.

Captain Tom Haran took a sideline hit on half-way, passing down the line to Chris Baker who, having found himself in space on the base line, drove infield, committing the defence before slipping the ball to Tim Urlings at the back post to sweep home and continue his fine scoring run into 2017.

Penarth were now fully in control of the game and West Wilts, struggling to contain their opponents, deployed a half court press in an effort to stifle the home team’s attacks.

The Penarth 'Bears' remained undeterred and patient in possession, however, and switching the ball around the back would eventually present another opening as some fine build-up play found Laith El Khatib in the 'D' to smash home on his reverse and give Penarth a 2 - 0 lead at half-time.

After the break, and with the sun now out of their eyes, Penarth began to move the ball around with much more authority.

With one crisp passing move working the ball into the 'D' and onto a West Wilts foot, the Bears ruthlessly dispatched the resulting short corner, Andy Willemite tipping in a Ben Croxall push pass at the back post to give the home team a commanding 3 - 0 lead.

With West Wilts resistance fading, the Bears went for the kill, smashing in another three to match their 6 - 0 victory in their opening day encounter. Haran set up the fourth, reading a defensive clearance to step in front of his man and intercept the ball, before working his way to the baseline and firing the ball across goal to David Joyce, who had stolen half a yard on his marker and made no mistakes sweeping home.

Now pressing the visitors aggressively, it was Croxall’s turn to intercept another failed clearance and smash his first reverse stick goal of the year high into the net.

Penarth would save the best until last however. Croxall, pulling the strings in midfield, sent a long cross field aerial from the half-way line to find Willemite on the far right baseline. The forward expertly controlled the ball with his first touch, before smashing it to the back post with his second, all in time for the arriving Joyce to sweep home his second – a goal which even draw applause from gracious opponents.

Penarth had plenty to be pleased about, with a good all-round performance, another clean sheet and news arriving of Firebrands’ defeat, a result which moves the Vale side up into second place – and among the promotion places – in Conference North.

Goalscorers: David Joyce (2), Tim Urlings, Ben Croxall, Andy Willemite, Laith El-Khatib

Cardiff & Met F 2 - Penarth A 3

Penarth’s 2nd XI resumed their De Cymru 1 campaign away to old rivals Cardiff and Met F and, having lost the opening day fixture between the sides, were well aware that this was going to be a difficult afternoon in what was a ‘must win’ game for the Bears’ promotion hopes.

A quick start has been a regular occurrence for Penarth this season so it was surprising that they came out of the blocks slowly on this occasion. Cardiff were able to gain the upper hand and create several good chances which required some excellent saves by Simon Comfort, playing against his former club, to keep the game level.

Having survived the shaky start, however, Penarth found their feet and slowly changed the momentum of the game, gaining the ascendancy and settling into their game plan. Unlike their hosts, the Bears were also able to capitalise on their dominance and grabbed the first goal when a good move down the right wing saw Richard Baker smash in a cross which was dispatched by Phil Lane.

Penarth thought they had doubled their lead soon after, with James Kidby flicking in from the top of the ‘D’. However, as the ball was on its way goalwards, the whistle was blown to give Penarth a penalty corner, which went unconverted.

The Vale side didn’t have to wait too long for a second goal though, with Chris McCarthy ghosting in behind the Cardiff defence to slap home a through ball from Dave Stevens.

Although Penarth were on top, the experienced Cardiff side always looked dangerous and grabbed a goal back on the break.

This only spurred the Bears on, however, and as they kept attacking, the two-goal lead was soon restored. This time, McCarthy turned provider to set-up Tom Parkinson at the back post, the winger making a hard finish look very easy as he reacted to a deflection on the pass.

Penarth could and should have had a fourth before the break, as they passed the ball around quickly and confidently, arguably playing their best hockey of the season. However, ultimately failing to convert their chances kept Cardiff in the game despite the 3 - 1 interval scoreline.

The resumption saw a more organised home team take the field and, as they gained dominance over much of the half, Penarth were limited to counter attacks and became increasingly guilty of turning the ball over too quickly. This put a lot of pressure on the Bears’ rearguard, but the back four and defensive midfielder Andy Strong rebuffed the majority of attacks and, when the defences were breached, Simon Comfort remained in inspired form to keep the two-goal cushion until the last five minutes, when Cardiff grabbed a second to set-up a tense end to the game.

The Bears dug deep to see the final moments, however, and gained a very valuable three points, made all the more important as second-placed Bridgend had lost earlier in the day, allowing Penarth to close back in on the promotion places ahead of their meeting with Whitchurch this weekend.

Goalscorers: Phil Lane, Chris McCarthy, Tom Parkinson

Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. When the regular season resumes, training will take place on Wednesdays at Stanwell School, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7pm and 8.15pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.