Menzieshill Miss Bronze by One
17 Feb 2008
After a great performance, in front of a large home crowd, Scotland’s Menzieshill HC missed out on bronze by one goal to Spain’s Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on the final day of the EuroHockey Indoor Club Championship Cup at Bells Sports Centre in Perth this Sunday.
Menzieshill beat the Spaniards 5-4 on Friday but were unable to repeat the result. Had they won, it would have been a first bronze for the Scottish side. However, Menzieshill should be proud of this year’s result as it is the clubs highest finish yet in the A division.
Captain Chris Anderson said: “We have been a bit unlucky. There have been a couple of missed chances, a couple of turnovers. We are disappointed but being fourth is not a bad result after all.”
Alan Dick stepped out looking pumped in the net and sure enough in the first five minutes he had two fantastic saves. In the first half Menzieshill had several opportunities, including a good chance by Gavin Byers straight down the middle.
The Spaniards made their own chances with two consecutive opportunities missed. Getting impatient, Ross McPherson took charge in the 11th minute and got Menzieshill on the board. Club de Campo’s Oliver Markkowsky answered back to get the ball rolling for the Spanish Club followed by, player of the tournament, Frederic Soyez who put the score up 2-1, where the scoreline stayed until the half.
Back on the court in half two, Menzieshill started strong and dominated for the first 10 minutes. After Kenny Stibbles hit the post, Menzieshill’s Ross McPherson had three attempts and finally nailed an equaliser. A few minutes later, the Spaniards stole the ball and after a series of passes, Markkowsky scored the 2-3.
But Menzieshill’s Captain Chris Anderson wasn’t about to let Club de Campo have the lead and netted the ball off a penalty corner to equalise. Soyez began to rally his troops and got physical and acquired a green card for pushing the 26th minute. The card didn’t slow Soyez down and the Spaniard placed the ball over Dick to pull Club de Campo ahead.
Spanish team-mate Alberto Esteban was next to score in minute 37, and Menzieshill decided to play without the goalkeeper in a last attempt to win bronze. In the last minute Menzieshill got a last opportunity to score a goal off a penalty corner after time. Menzieshill top goal scorer, 34 year old Kenny Stibbles stepped up to the line and scored to put the final result at 4-5.