Brasenose won their second Mixed Hockey Cuppers title in three
years after defeating a combined LMH/ Trinity side 1-0 in at
Iffley Road. Both sides had had extremely difficult routes to the final.
LMH/ Trinity drew their semi-final against Oriel 1-1 and it was
left to their keeper, Nick Johansson- Hartley, who displayed some
agility (and no little aggression) to keep out three Oriel flicks
and secure his side’s place in the final. BNC also won through to the final via penalty flicks. They
trailed tournament favourites Worcester for most of the game,
only equalising via a goal minutes from time. However, they
quickly moved ahead on flicks after keeper Eli Mitropoulos saved
two Worcester flicks. The final was a tense affair in which both sides were
obviously tired after their semi-final experiences. BNC always
looked the more likely but struggled to cope with LMH/
Trinity’s midfield in the first-half. Eventually the absence of LMH/ Trinity’s Matt Emerton,
who had been injured in the semi and was only able to play a bit
part in the final, began to tell. BNC pressured their opponents
for much of the second half but only secured victory with another
late goal. After a spoilt short-corner routine the ball fell to
Carl Adkin, who rifled it into the top corner. Winning skipper Ben Lewsley, who had earlier reminded his
players of the ‘historic’ nature of the occasion, was
justifiably delighted, declaring ‘this shows that hockey at
the ‘Nose is back on the map; our men will be looking to
storm the top division next season.’ARCHIVE: 5th week TT 2004
Nose runs to Hockey Cuppers victory
