Day 2 at EHCCC and dazzling Danson puts Reading into the 5/6 playoff

The second day at the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup and Reading and Berliner go through to the 5/6 playoffs on Monday with wins over Atasport and Railway Union respectively.
Reading were out of the blocks early with a short corner awarded to them in the 3rd minute of the game. Kate Richardson-Walsh struck hard and on target but the Azerbaijan keeper proved hard to beat and the defence were quick to sweep the cleared ball off her pads. Alex Danson put Reading ahead in the 6th minute, with Hunt following on in the 31st minute, so Reading were well ahead at the half.  Reading had a number of corners throughout the game by the Azeri keeper was on song and kept the scoreline down. Very much against the run of play Tsiganska scored in the 48th minute, and the scoreline looked tight at 2-1 but in reality Reading were the stronger team in the attack with Danson’s skill and speed being a challenge for Atasport.
In the final minute Reading earned another corner, a variation from the direct shots of Richardson-Walsh, with Wilkson finding the backboard and the final goal of the game. Game finished 3-1 and Reading will play in the 5/6 playoff on Monday with Atatsport playing for 7th / 8th place.
Final Score: Atasport 1-3 (0-2) Reading HC:
Reading HC
Alex Danson 6′
Wiz Hunt 31′
Leah Wilkinson 70′
Atasport
Anastasiya TSIGANSKA 48′
The second game of the day and the underdogs Railway Union faced on paper more experienced Berliner side. It was the Irish side who had the first chance of the game with a corner awarded in the 10th minute, Lucey’s shot was saved and the resulting long corner was well defended by Berliner. A closely contested game, with Railway struggling to put phases together before the German’s put enough pressure on to close down any attacks. The game remained goalless for 31 minutes, with a melee in front of the Railway goal which was struck home by Schnitzer. The reply from Railway came 3 minutes later via a penalty corner deflection on the baseline from McDonnell. The half time score was 1-1.
The second half was an excellent contest of 2 teams who both believed that they could win the game, chances both ends, perhaps the best coming from a Delaney who in the 55th minute shot wide. An intense last 10 minutes saw both sides pushing for the winner. However the game ended 1-1 and straight to shoot out. A disappointing shoot out ensued providing only one goal from 10 attempts, the winner coming from Berliner’s Weiske.
Berliner now play for 5/6 v Reading and Railway join Atasport in the 7/8 playoff, both games take place on Monday.
Final Score: Berliner HC v Railway Union HC 1-1 (1-1) 1-0 S/O
Berliner HC:
Caroline Schnitzer 31′
Viktoria Wieske S/O
Railway Union:
Jean McDonnell 34′
 
Photograph: EHF/Frank Reelick (c)