Metcalfe's in-form men cash in against the Bankers

Halifax firsts made it four wins on the bounce in Yorkshire One with a 5-0 victory at home to Sheffield Bankers.
Hockey - Hallifax III v Leeds VIII. Simon Meredith for Halifax.Hockey - Hallifax III v Leeds VIII. Simon Meredith for Halifax.
Hockey - Hallifax III v Leeds VIII. Simon Meredith for Halifax.

Matthew Metcalfe’s side dominated from start to finish in a near perfect performance, centre back David Wheatley taking the man of the match prize as the defence claimed another clean sheet.

Halifax welcomed back Josh Barron from illness and he made a scything run which almost led to an opener.

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It wasn’t long until that happened, as skipper Jake Bamforth coolly rounded the Bankers keeper after Michael Jones had played him in.

It was 2-0 shortly after, as Tom Love scored with a low reverse strike from the edge of the D, and Jones made it 3-0 with a trademark penalty corner finish into the top corner - his 25th goal of the season

Jones was pulling the strings in midfield and his drilled pass almost found the edge of winger George English’s stick.

Halifax started the second half at a very high tempo and Barron, Bamforth and Jones linked well, only to see Bamforth’s shot go narrowly wide.

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Keeper Matthew Breton made a smart save from a penalty corner, before Wheatley drove the ball to safety, in the Bankers’ only spell of pressure.

Connor Sutcliffe made it 4-0 following a penalty corner and Bamforth completed the scoring with the goal of the game, finishing from close range after an end to end move started by Martyn Boyle and involving four other players.

Halifax now face the other Sheffield team, Hallam, at Park Lane this weekend.

Halifax thirds are back on top of Yorkshire Five North after a goof 3-1 home win over a Leeds VIII side who were a lot stronger than in the first meeting.

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Halifax recovered from a poor start and an early goal against, to show really good teamwork and determination. In the end it could have been more emphatic but the Leeds keeper was in good form.

Dave Collins turned well and got the team back on level terms.

Rob Amos went close before a lovely move starting from Paul Graham. He fed Jakob Morley, the youngster getting behind the Leeds defence before making a lovely pass to Jack Willis, who swept the ball home.

While the game was 2-1, Halifax were showing some signs of nerves. Michael Broadbent, Amos and Morley worked very hard but their finishing was not clinical and Jamie Maddox also saw two shots from corners go narrowly wide.

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Willis settled the nerves, tapping in from close range after a good move down the left involving Broadbent, Paul Mayes and Simon Meredith.

The home team saw out the last 10 minutes with John Kalter in the Halifax goal rarely troubled.

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