The EHCCC14 was won in a dramatic shoot out by AH&BC after they drew 2-2 with the giants of the EuroHockey Championships, HC ‘sHertogenbosch. They lifted the EHCCC for the first time since it’s new format in 2010.
In first game of the day saw the 2 bottom teams Atasport from Azerbaijan and Railway Union from Ireland play for 7th, 8th ranking and vital points for the EHCCC15.
Railway started the game with an immediate attack, via Dooley and Jenkinson. They were rewarded with a penalty corner and goal in the 7th minute as Dooely got a touch on the initial sweep. Some missed chances towards the end of the first quarter, so the score remained 1-0, until just before the half when a solo run from Dooley found Kate Dillon unmarked in the circle. The score was a comfortable 2-0 at half time for Railway.
Atasport worked their way more into the game in the second half and pushed hard to get onto the score sheet. Against the run of play Dooely got her second goal, so Railways went ahead 0-3. Atasport scored twice in the 44th and 55th minute via Tsiganska and Aliyeva, taking the score to 2-4. Railway’s Kate Lloyd scored 2 critical goals in the 62nd and 64th minutes putting the game beyond the reach of Ataport.
Atasport v Railway Union HC 2-5 (0-2)
Sinead Dooley 7′ 36′
Kate Dillon 25′
Anastasia Tsiganska 44′
Khatira Aliyeva 55′
Kate Lloyd 62’64’
The 5th/6th playoff was between Reading HC and Berliner HC.
Reading had the better of the first half with Townsend and Danson making a nuisance of themselves in the German’s circle, with a very well worked first goal from Townsend to Danson and Halle was perfectly placed to score. The second goal came from a similar move, this time Cockburn was best placed. The scoreline of 2-0 at the half was a fair reflection of the game.
The second half was a repeat of the first as Berliner struggled to find their form. A deliberate foul by Berliner led to stroke in the 49th minute, which Leah Wilkinson converted and stretched Reading’s lead to 3-0. The final goal came via Liana Smith in the 59th minute.
Reading HC v Berliner HC 4-0 (2-0)
Becky Halle 25′
Ellie Cockburn 29′
Leah Wilkinson 49′
Liana Smith 61′
The bronze medal game and a very tight contest between Uhlenhorster HC and Real Sociedad.
The Spanish girls certainly played the more positive attacking hockey and were rewarded just before the half with the goal of the day from Ma Eugeinia Guajardo as she found herself one on one with the German keeper and she lobbed the ball over the keeper! 1-0. Both teams had chances with both keepers forced into action. The girls from San Sebastian certainly tried everything to find a second goal, but came across a strong German defence. Hillmann eventually equalised in the 55th minute on spite of them playing much of the game defending. This solitary German goal took the game to shootouts and in true German style, they played a very composed shootout, defeating the Spanish keeper 4 times in comparison to the 2 goals from Real Sociedad and taking the bronze medal.
UHC Hamburg v Real Socieded 1-1 (0-1)
Ma Eugenia Guajardo 33′
Kristina Hillmann 55′
And so to the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup Final 2014. The two best club teams in Europe played eachother in a stunning final. The game opened with a quick goal from HC s’ – Hertogenbosch and their captain Martje Paumen who scored in the 3rd minute with her trademark powerful dragflick. Amsterdam pressed hard to get on the scoresheet with a number of corners, but they didn’t find the target. The halftime score was 1-0 to the hosts.
Both teams had incredible chances early in the second half, firstly from Sabine Mol for Den Bosch and then Holleman found herself in front of the keeper, but failed to find the net. A beautiful goal from Player of the Tournament Lidewij Welten, and Den Bosch were 0-2 ahead in the 43rd minute. Eva de Goede replied via a PC for Amsterdam a minute later and the scoreline of 1-2 was a fair reflection of the game until then. Welten again created an impossible amount of space around her, but again her cross did not find a stick. Another PC to Den Bosch, but Lauren Stam made a solid off the line save. Den Bosch looked like they were very much in control of the game and a goal from Kelly Jonker in the 59th minute changed the game and the attitude of the Amsterdam players, their tails were up and it was an absolute testament to the both teams that the last 1à minutes was hard fought and mistakes were punished.
An overtime PC for Den Bosch, denied by the Amsterdam keeper Anne Veenendaal, meant the game went to shootout.
In a way what a shame to have to find a winner, but we did! and Amsterdam H&BC won the shoot out in a comprehensive way with 3 goals scored and zero for Den Bosch.
AH&BC v HC s’Hertogenbosch 2-2 (0-1) S/O 3-0
Maartje Paumen 5′ 0-1
Lidewij Welten 18′ 0-2
Eva de Goede 44′ 1-2
Kelly Jonker 59′ 2-2
Player of the Tournament: Lidewij Welten (Den Bosch)
Top Goalscorer: Eva de Goede (AHBC)
Best Goalkeeper: Yvonne Frank (UHC Hamburg)
Final Ranking:
Photographs: EHF/Frank Reelick (c)
21st April 2014