WINDERMERE Men bounced back from their first defeat of the season, at Urmston, with an 11-1 win over Bolton 4ths at Troutbeck Bridge.
It took the home side a while to produce anything like their trademark passing game, but once they started scoring there was no stopping them and, in the second half, they were able to attack almost at will as Bolton collapsed.
Mark Hartnett opened the scoring with a clinical finish after good approach work on the right. He added a second in similar style before midefield anchor man Steve Heyns got the goal of the game with a powerful reverse stick shot from the edge of the D. Scott Santamera jinked his way past two players before firing in a fourth and sweeper Mark Kendrick did a great interception, pass and pick-up before beating the Bolton keeper for a fifth.
A moment of madness in the heart of the Windermere defence allowed Bolton a soft goal in reply, but Windermere re-formed after the break with man-of-the-match Gary Garside pushing up to bag four close-range goals and Steve Heyns adding two more from short corners, one a tidy flick.
Victory took Windermere back up to second place in Division Eight.
Leyland Men 1 - Kendal 0....
KENDAL'S spectacular start to the season came to end with defeat at Leyland.
In a physical game the Greens could not find their touch in midfield and struggled to gain any lasting dominance.
Leyland, wallowing at the bottom of Division Five, were determined to show they could match the league leaders and played a very tight marking game.
Kendal could get no time on the ball and their frustration soon showed, but they still created chances and hit the post while the Leyland keeper thwarted them several times.
Leyland were encouraged and began to look increasingly confident and played the better hockey.
Kendal took consolation in a solid defence led by man of the match Ian Donaldson, who always looked in command.
Leyland launched a series of promising attacks but experienced defenders Donaldson and Francis Tidmarsh gave away little and it remained goalless at half time.
Ten minutes in to the second half Leyland gained a penalty corner. The resulting shot was mis-hit, took a deflection off another stick and looped up in to the net.
Desperate to get back on terms Kendal began to lose their shape and the less they achieved, as the game deteriorated in to a "who can hit the ball hardest" competition.
At the back Martin Boyd tried to show Kendal the way, playing with great composure but his example was in vain.
In the closing stages Leyland began to tire and Kendal were awarded a penalty corner as the final whistle blew.
Every player bar keeper Chacko surrounded the Leyland D in a final attempt to retrieve a point. The first shot was blocked, the rebound was picked up and the second shot deflected just wide of the post.
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