Eagles in the 2nd Division Cup final
Posted by David Devincenzi-Clemens on 9 February 2017
Eagles book their place in the 2nd Division Cup final.
The first of the second division semi finals was played under floodlights this week between Eagles HC and Gibraltar HT.
With both teams eager to progress the opening of the game saw the sides proceed with caution. It was Eagles who were having the better of the play and pressing Gib HT back, although the latter were always dangerous on the counterattack.
Despite creating several good chances and having a number of penalty corners Eagles were unable to make their possession count.
At half time the score was 0-0 and the start of the second half saw more of the same, although by this point Gibraltar HT players were beginning to show signs of tiring, it was evident they had no players on the bench to provide breathers to the 11 on the field. Eagles in contrast had a full squad of 16.
The deadlock was broken by Young Julian Hernandez, who had been lively all game. A penalty córner saw veteran Dylan Sacristán use all his experience to pick out Hernandez to deflect the ball home. 1-0 Eagles and Gibraltar HT were now facing an uphill struggle.
Things would get worse for Gibraltar HT soon after when following a bit of confusion in the D, Christian García managed to find a moment of space and slot the ball in the corner of the goal to make it 2-0. It seemed as if it was game over.
To their credit, Gib HT managed to regather and pushed to find a goal, they created a few chances and their pressure saw Eagles momentarily reduced to 10 men when Conrad Macintosh saw Green for stopping a dangerous counterattack.
Unfortunately for them, it was to prove fruitless and they were unable to break the deadlock.
It is Eagles who march on to the final to play either Collegians or Grammarians Reserves who square up on Monday evening.
