Southampton hit six - but coach unhappy

Southampton threw themselves a lifeline in the Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 relegation scrap with a 6-2 win over Addiscombe – but it needed four goals in the closing ten minutes to clinch the victory.
The result lifted Southampton above fellow strugglers Romsey, whose 4-1 defeat at London Edwardians II was their sixth in a row.
Coach Jon Price was far from impressed with Southampton’s performance.
“For periods, we looked like a team that had never met before. We were lucky to be playing the bottom of the league side,” he said.
Ironically, Southampton started well with good ball retention, only to be caught on the break and fall behind.
“Our response was fantastic and a minute later we were level from a Sam McKenzie penalty corner,” Price said.
“After that, the issues started. We started rushing and forcing ball, which led to us giving the ball away needlessly, all compounded by poor first touches, and badly executed passing where we looked like a team that had never met before.
"This led to a second goal for Addiscombe, taking advantage of our poor structure in defence, allowing them to pass around us like we were statues.
“This low quality of play continued through till half time, where I gave the guys the serious talking to, with the hope they would be able to reset and come out playing our style of hockey in the second half.
“Although things got better, we still tried our hardest to give the ball back to the opposition with poor passing and receiving standards.”
When Lukas Drumm thudded a penalty stroke against the upright, Southampton feared the worst.
But with Addiscombe visibly tiring, Southampton eventually cashed in with Joe Barber equalising before four unanswered goals flashed into the visitors’ net in ten minutes.
There were two open play goals from Lukas Drumm, one short corner rebound by Phil Maunder and a further open play goal from Si Watson.
“It was the result we needed, and realistically did deserve, even if we forgot how to play for 50 minutes of the game,” said a reflective Price.