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PROMOTION GUARANTEED

Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sport/Hockey
Southampton University 0, IW II 1
THE IW will be playing top-level hockey next season after sealing promotion with an exciting win.
The team has been promoted to the top Hampshire Open League division after a nail-biting match at Southampton University.
Knowing they had to win to go up or let their fate be decided by other results, the Island gave a determined performance.
Braving wet and windy conditions, they initially struggled and had to call upon their defence to stifle the uni attacks.
Things went from bad to worse when playmaker Andy Graham was injured early on and supporters were left on the edge of their seats when keeper Mark Corney was forced to produce several top saves. The uni was determined to spoil the Island’s promotion hopes and scored, only to have it disallowed.
The Island upped their game after the break and chances followed. Craig Bruce had a goal disallowed while Alan Ball and Felix Stubbings went close.
But that all important goal came with 15 minutes to go.
The goalkeeper managed to keep out a shot from Bruce only for Simon Butler to pick up the rebound and smash it home.
Ball, Jeremy Baldwin and John Pearson repelled attack after attack as the Island threw men behind the ball.
In a thrilling end to the game, Southampton scored but the Island team felt there were clear fouls in the build-up and after a short delay, it was correctly disallowed.
The Island managed to hold out until the final whistle and with it secured promotion.
Skipper Alan Ball said: “I and the players are so happy that after a gruelling season, we will be playing top division hockey next season.
“After winning our first seven games of the campaign and losing just twice all season, conceding less than a goal a game, I think shows we deserve to go up.
“You could see how much it meant to the players when that goal went in, and I have never welcomed a final whistle so much as we were under pressure.
“Now we can celebrate, regroup over the summer and get ready for a much higher level of hockey next season. We thank all the players, our coach Craig Peel and Alison and Derrick Austin for their support at each game, without whom we would not have got promotion.”