Men's 1s vs Harrogate 1

Harrogate M1 - 1

Stockton M1 - 8

Stockton carved out their seventh win in a row with an impressive victory on the road.

Despite Harrogate’s clear pedigree and vocal home support, it was the visitors who took a firm grip of the game. 

Clinical at either end of the pitch - under early pressure Stockton tackled fearlessly in their own circle Joe Roberts (Boots Opticians) and Adam Warnes (KLW Management) making crucial interventions while stand-in keeper Ben Hall made a string of excellent saves.

At the other end Stockton’s loudest character was making all the noise, set piece specialist Alex Heath (Tech4Cash) stepped up to fire home two penalty corners in style, before top scorer Billy Merifield (Lapoel Travel) converted (by his high standards) a simple chance at the back post after great work by his strike partner Will Ferguson.

Jake Leader and Ben Chilton kept the pressure on the beleaguered Harrogate backline. Earning a penalty corner with which the imperious Heath rounded off a first half hattrick with a trademark drag flick.

Max Mowbray tested Harrogate’s resolve with a breakaway; narrowly missing the target, having rounded several defenders and the keeper - he also tried to test the resilience of the clubhouse windows with a wild reverse effort late in the half.

Into the second half the Teesside men were in command. The deep midfield trio of Patrick Atkinson (Atkinson Build), Jack Addison (Yarm Physio) and Archie Fisher controlled the pitch beautifully- keeping Stockton moving and disrupting the home side. Dan Stewart (DRB Security) made interceptions and two vital tackles to ensure Harrogate breakaways were quashed.

At the other end, it was all about speed: Ferguson and Mowbray combining at lightening pace - the latter having much more finishing success from less than a yard out into an open net, after Ferguson had rounded the keeper. Mowbray doubled his tally soon afterwards with his own breakaway. Ferguson got in on the act after Timmy Foley intercepted and played him in - rounding two defenders before unleashing a strong reverse finish. Minutes later Ferguson bagged his brace with another mazy run, sitting the stranded home keeper down and finishing from a narrow angle for Stockton’s eighth.

A very well taken penalty corner saw the competitive Harrogate earn what was undoubtedly a deserved consolation in the final stages. The day, though, belonged to Stockton. 

Man of the Match: Ben Hall