HOCKEY
IW 9, Wimborne Wayfarers II 0
IW ROMPED to an easy win over Wimborne to move into second place in Hampshire 5.
The home side expected a sterner test from their opponents, who before the game lay level on points with IW. However, despite fielding an England veteran international in their line up, Wimborne posed little threat.
IW were again quickly off the mark, when a shot from James Liddiard was saved, but Craig Bruce ensured the deflection was helped over the line.
Wimborne almost got back into it when a rare mistake by Lewis Heaven-Gandy let in a forward, but keeper Tom Butt produced a good sliding block and the danger was cleared.
This led to a sustained period of IW pressure, and Colin Simmonds rounded off a lovely team move by sweeping home from Tom Gould’s pass. Simmonds then doubled his tally, beating several challenges to slot home.
Liddiard then got the goal he deserved, sweeping home from the penalty spot after good work on the right by Richard Reynolds.
It didn’t take the Island long to get going in the second half, as Simmonds completed his hat trick immediately, impressively diverting home a cross first time from the top of the area to give the home side a 5-0 advantage.
Wimborne knew they were beaten and lost their shape, and IW took advantage as, from the restart, Lewis Heaven-Gandy swept home a rebounded Stuart Allen shot from a penalty-corner.
Former Wimborne player Todd Slaughan then grabbed a goal against his former team, flicking home from a well-worked short corner routine, before Simon Butler beat the keeper at his near post with a powerful shot.
The scoring was rounded off by Bruce, who dinked the ball over the keeper with 20 minutes to go.
IW: Butt, Slaughan, Heaven-Gandy, Stubbings, Allen, Reynolds, Gould, Bruce, Simmonds, Butler, Liddiard.