Exiles Mens Vs Dereham 3

East Men’s Hockey League Division 5 North East

Dereham  III   5      Broadland Exiles   6

A brace of goals from Mark Varley gave Exiles the start they were looking for against a strong Dereham III XI  The first followed good work by Will Mullen and the second set up by Simon Nesbit.  Ricky Powley, playing his first game of the season lashed in a third before Dereham got their act together, reducing the deficit when England Over 40’s international Mark Braybrook found the back of the Exiles net at a penalty corner. Richard Stainthorpe scored for Dereham just before the break to set up an exciting second half.  Exiles were quick out of the blocks, Nesbit setting up Phil Dawson with an easy finish at the back post for goal number four.  Dereham’s response was not slow in coming, catching Exiles on the break, Gary Witton scrambling the ball home.  Dereham had the opportunity to find an equaliser when awarded a penalty stroke but Exiles goal keeper James Edward-Scott saves well to keep them in front. Exiles Rob Panter scored two penalty corners in quick succession to give them a firmer grip on the game but Braybrook set nerves jangling with a goal from edge of the circle and a thumping penalty corner strike to set up a grand stand finale. Now reduced to ten men Exiles showing true grit held on to collect all the points.

Exiles rocked up at Dereham knowing it would be a battle but we stepped up to the challenge by starting brightly.. Mark Varley opened the scoring  with a tap in after a good cross from Will Mullen. Mark then got his second moments later after he swept in a wonderful team goal which was assisted by Simon Nisbet. We then scored a third through Ricky Powley who rifled a crisp shot from the top of the dee into the bottom left hand corner from an assist by Ian White. But it didn’t go all our way when Dereham fought back they scored there first goal from a short corner by England Over 40’s international Mark Braybrook. They scored another soon after. This came from open play at the top of the dee by Richard Stainthorpe who finished neatly. We then went in at Half Time 3-2. Exiles wrestled back the momentum from some great team hockey when Simon Nisbet put it on a plate for Phil Dawson to tap in at the back post. Exiles then got caught on the break and after the ball ping ponged around the box Gary Witton deftly tucked it away. Shortly after Dereham got a a flick beautiful save from James Edward Scott kept us in front. Then we had two quick succession short corners goals both from Rob Panter one from a direct shot in the left bottom corner and the second was a follow up after the keeper saved the first effort but buried into the bottom right. Putting us firmly in the lead. Then it got a bit frantic and Braybrook scored a beauty from the top of the dee to make it 6-4 then some nimble dribbling by the dereham attack got a another short and Braybrook got his hat-trick with a nice finish. We then went down to ten for the last few minutes after the herioc Will Mullen got booked for verbals. But we held our nerve to win 5-6. It was a great team effort against a top opposition where we showed true grit.