This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

GUERNSEY have been crowned the national hockey club champions.

Until this season, the Greens had never progressed further than the quarter-finals of the national HA Trophy for clubs outside the top-flight Premier League.

And in Saturday’s final against Henley at Old Loughtonians in Essex they came away with a brilliant 4-3 win.

More than 50 Guernsey supporters travelled to watch the match.

‘It’s such an incredible feeling for the guys and for the crowd,’ said Guernsey player-coach Ben Allberry (pictured) afterwards.

‘It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had as a player and as a coach. It was a great team effort and well deserved.

‘We didn’t play particularly well, but our team spirit got us through. We got what we deserved for all of our hard work.’

The Sarnians went 1-0 down in the first 10 minutes but man-of-the-match Damian Wallen hit back shortly afterwards with a wonder strike from the top of the D.

The score remained 1-1 at half time but the island side took the lead early into the second half through another excellent goal, this time from Yobbos’ winger, Adam Kitching.

Henley dragged it back to 2-2 on the hour mark at a short corner before Allberry made it 3-2 after a getting onto a scintillating through ball from captain Andy Whalley.

Allberry then went on to make 4-2 as he scored from a penalty flick after a Henley defender fell to the ground and had blocked his shot.

Henley got one back from their own penalty flick after an infringement by the Guernsey defence in their own D.

And with the islanders going down to 10 men in the last 10 minutes after defender Adie Peacegood was sent to the sin-bin for the second time, Henley came full guns blazing.

However, the island side held out with some resilient defending to claim the honours much to the delight of the Guernsey supporters.

The post-match celebrations went on long into the night.

‘Absolutely delighted – thrilled’ said Whalley.

‘We didn’t play the best hockey that we’ve ever played.

‘But we did a job.’

Article posted on 27th April, 2009 - 2.30pm