Keswick Men’s 1sts played host to Wilmslow in a North West Premier league fixture.
Although they lost 4-3, Keswick are playing against teams who have been at this higher level for many seasons, but for large periods of this game it was the home side who looked the one used to playing further up the leagues.
Typical was the effort from Ruaridh Dean on five minutes as he burst from half-way past two defenders, and he was only stopped by a body check.
That resulted in a penalty flick, which was duly scored by Mark Proctor.
Keswick kept up the pressure and on 14 minutes Luke Heap beat the defender marking him and was able to delay his shot just long enough for the keeper to commit himself, before lifting the ball over him to put Keswick further ahead.
Wilmslow did mount attacks, but after they had forced a save from Keswick’s Will Anderson early on, they only looked really dangerous from penalty corners, and set plays round the D.
After 23 minutes, one of the Wilmslow short corners landed at the stick of skipper Martin Wright, and his shot was too much to handle for Anderson, and the stick of Keswick skipper Shaun Wilson, to reduce the arrears.
Keswick again went forward, and after 34 minutes were awarded a short corner which came to Tom Morgan at the top of the D. He made no mistake, firing home to take Keswick into the break with a 3-1 lead.
Keswick had been the best side in the first half knowing that more of the same should get them their first win of the season.
Unfortunately their concentration seemed to slip for the opening 10 minutes of the half, and they found themselves under increasing pressure.
After only four minutes Roger Eden pulled back a goal for the visitors, snd three minutes later Wright was on hand again to score from a penalty stroke for a foul inside the D, and tie the game at 3-3.
More Wilmslow pressure followed and another goal on16 minutes for Wright from another penalty corner, gave him a hat-trick.
Wilmslow had the lead when 20 minutes earlier that had looked like an unlikely turnaround.
Keswick did regain their rhythm and mounted attacks of their own, but Wilmslow’s confidence had grown, and their resolve in defence had grown with it as they held on for the win.
