Draw in NL season opener

A very competitive first game of the season from which Deeside can feel unlucky not to have taken all 3 points.

The first half was a typical season opener, it was a scrappy and cagey affair with deeside taking time to settle into the game. New faces making their league debut for the Ramblers included Ben Read and Liam Hennessy. Hennessy particularly impressed with his guile and creativity but it was Bart Ryan-Beswick, a late call up for his injured brother Warwick and the ever youthful James Pratt who were jointly awarded 'man of the match' by their teammates.

Wakefield opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a close range effort but Deeside soon replied 10 mins later with Ali Ghazanfar converting a penalty stroke awarded for a foul on Chris Barber. That was all the scoring for the first half.

A rousing half time team talk from coach Andy Mitchell seemed to work wonders as Deeside came out for the second half with greater purpose and began to dominate the game. Although being on top it took until the 58th minute for Deeside to go in front - Harpal Panesar scoring from a penalty corner - the sheer speed of the shot was enough to beat the hapless keeper. Ali Ghazanfar put the ramblers 3-1 up with another penalty corner goal - duplicating Panesar's earlier effort. At this stage Deeside were in control and looking to add to their lead when they conceded from a penalty corner themselves. The unlucky Russell Hornby was adjudged to have played the ball unfairly on the edge of the D and had to watch the resulting drag flick sail high into Jimmi Hill's goal from his seat by the match official. While Hornby was still sitting out his green card the visitors scored again to level the game at 3-3 - this time from a scuffed shot from the edge of the D. Jimmi Hill appeared to have been impeded by a Wakefield player but his protestations were waved away by the umpire. This is how the game ended - the draw was hard to take for the Ramblers after playing so well. It was lovely to see so many club members down supporting the first team - greatly appreciated as always. The next game is a trip to Barford Tigers on Sunday 6th October.