Trojans triumph indoors: Winch edged out

Trojans Back (from left): Ben Frost, Ian Bassett, Rich Aves, Steve Cole, Calum Crichton. Front: Nathan Hastings, Toby Dudson, Tom Croft-Baker, Matt Watts.

Trojans have qualified for England Hockey’s national Division 2 South indoor super sixes after winning the Southern Counties Championships at Fleming Park.
They beat Chichester (3-2), Croydon (2-0), Horsham (3-1) and Woking (5-2) to join Fareham at Canterbury over the weekend January 5/6 2018.
Trojans’ solitary defeat came with a 3-1 loss to Winchester, but by then they were already certain of topping the six-club league table.
They got off to a flier, going 3-0 up against Chichester through Ben Frost (2) and Ian Bassett before powering to a 5-2 victory over Woking, who lost all of their games.
Bassett, who finished the tournament with seven goals, hit a hat-trick alongside singles by Frost and teenager Toby Dudson.
Bassett added two more goals to his tally as Trojans trimmed Horsham 3-1 before beating Croydon 2-0 (Richard Aves and Bassett) – having survived a barrage of late penalty corners from one-time Team Bath hot-shot Tim Davenport.
“Steve Cole, our veteran goalkeeper, rolled back the years with some superlative saves,” Bassett smiled.
Winchester, runners-up in the county indoor play-offs, had to be satisfied with third place, despite inflicting Trojans’ solitary defeat and thumping Woking 8-2 and Croydon 9-2.  But a 2-2 draw with Chichester and a 3-2 defeat to second placed Horsham cost them a qualifying place.

Winchester Back (from left): Andy Watts, Will Phillips, Ben Cowling, Kent Langridge, Stuart Swift. Front: Micah Smithard, Ed Ellis, James Pawley, Kieran Molloy.