Two-goal lead thrown away

9:08am Wednesday 19th March 2008

COLCHESTER threw away a two-goal lead once again to leave them precariously placed near the foot of the table after a 3-2 defeat against Bury St Edmunds in NE14hockey East League Premier B division.

Once again, the hosts started the game at a great pace and established their two-goal advantage within the first ten minutes.

Mark Kennedy crossed the ball from the right to Brian Barker and his touch found a Bury foot in the D, but with the Bury defence stopping, Rob Mann had the presence of mind to hit the ball into the back of the net.

Minutes later, Colchester and Mann had their second.

A ball in from deep by Ed Long-Price was neatly dummied by Craig Warriner at the top of the D, with Mann unmarked at the back post to slap the ball home.

Colchester dominated the first half and had further chances to extend their advantage, but Andrew Walker fired straight at the keeper, after a good run by Warriner, and Rohan Khaira saw his shot saved after a good individual run.

Bury's best chance of the half came from a penalty corner but Grant Hibbert got down well to save with his stick as the ball was heading for the bottom corner.

Rob Mann had a chance to complete his hat-trick shortly before half-time but his slap shot was saved by the Bury keeper.

The second half continued in the same vein with Colchester pushing hard to get a third goal.

A nicely-worked penalty corner found Brian Barker, whose deflection trickled along the goal-line before going just wide.

Minutes later Mann had another chance to get a third, after a good move down the right, involving Warriner and Walker, saw Warriner get the ball at the top of the D.

He fired his pass towards Mann, however, he was unable to deflect the ball goalwards.

A poor tackle by Long-Price and yellow card were the catalyst for Bury to get back into the match, though.

The resultant free-hit was deflected by Wayne Masters, however, only as far as a Bury forward, who somehow managed to scramble the ball into the back of the net.

Bury pushed hard and the player advantage told, with Hibbert rushing out quickly to block a shot to prevent an equaliser.

However, the visitors pulled level before Long-Price's return from the sin-bin.

Colchester's defence allowed a Bury player to run dangerously down the right before sliding the ball past Hibbert and across the Colchester goal, where a forward was on hand to push the ball into the empty net.

And within minutes, Colchester were behind for the first time as Bury converted from a penalty corner.

With time running out, Colchester had the ball in the back of the net, however, the umpire had already blown for an offence.

Warriner then slammed the ball into the net from a late penalty corner, but unfortunately for Colchester it was just after the umpire's whistle.

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