Reverse hits flew past helpless goalkeepers in a high-scoring Hero Hockey India League 2015 game. Uttar Pradesh Wizards won 5-1 on the strength of superior strike force for fourth win in eighth match, thwarting Dabang Mumbai efforts to avert another loss on home turf, at the Mahindra stadium.
Ramandeep Singh scooped home the first, teammate Bob de Voogd whipped home two reverse hits, Nikkin Thimmaiah diverted a pass as the visitors walked away with honours in the eighth match. Drag flicker V. Raghunath powered home the fifth.
Adrian D’Souza replaced David Harte after the first two reverse, but the power-packed hits flying past them at wicked angles could not be stopped. Jeremy Hayward pulled back a consolation goal, via a reverse hit from a narrow angle, but by then, the match had gone out of hand.
Ramandeep squeezed the ball beyond the reach of three defenders and goalkeeper Harte for the Wizards first goal in the second quarter. Running on to a lob from the midfield, the striker trapped and scooped high into the left corner, catching the defence closing in by surprise.
Mumbai custodian Harte, called into action twice till then, covered the angle to let go a de Voogd placement roll wide, but was caught at the other post when Ramandeep scooped home.
Wizards went ahead via a move involving three players. Jolie Wouter carried the ball down the left flank, daring the defence to close in. Ramandeep and Thimmiah positioned themselves at either posts for the final pass, diverted by Ramandeep for the latter to direct the ball in.
D’Souza, replacing Harte under the bar, was helpless on the goalline due to the change in the point of attack, only had time to react when de Voogd whipped home the third via a reverse hit from an acute angle. The ball flew in off the goalkeeper. He repeated the act later.
A similar attempt at the other end by Hayward helped the home team reduce the margin of defeat following a penalty corner. Sreejesh blocked the first shot, the ball was relayed to the Mumbai player again whose wristy reverse hit flew at an angle into the cage.
The result:
Uttar Pradesh Wizards 5 (Ramandeep Singh 26, Nikkin Thimmaiah 34, Bob de Voogd 42,45, V. Raghunath 50) bt Dabang Mumbai 1 (Jeremy Hayward 44).
