22 April 2023
Ahead of Friday’s evening showdown between DHS and Northwood, DHS coach Michael Baker had expressed his concern about the challenge his team would face against a confident, in-form team. They were sternly challenged but, in a high-quality clash, the Blue Typhoon came away with an impressive 1-0 victory at home.
DHS has looked as if they could be the best team in KZN, but Northwood, in 11 matches this season, had lost only once heading into the game. In that time, they had also slotted 36 goals and conceded just three. In fact, it had been six games since their defences were breeched.
Lively support
The atmosphere inside The Coliseum, which is the appropriate name that has been accorded the new Blue and Gold Astro at DHS, was pumping, thanks to the hosts’ boarders who were lively and vocal throughout the absorbing contest.
From the first whistle, DHS managed to exert pressure on Northwood and midway through the opening chukka, they forced a penalty corner. James Read, though, was out like a flash and got a stick to the ball as DHS attempted a drag flick, leading to it looping high over the surrounding fence and into the street.
Michael Baker’s charges were doing a good job of closing down the Northwood defenders, but Read, at the back, was steadfast, standing tall in the face of some severe pressure.
A ball along the baseline from Lerou Dithlakanyane produced a half-chance for the hosts, when it looped up off a stick in the circle. At goalkeeper Harlee Jagga’s far post, with the ball high above his head, Tyrique Cloete tapped the ball towards the goal. It was a neat touch, but it passed just over the crossbar and landed on the netting above Jagga’s head.
Dangerous on the counter
Northwood sounded a warning when a quick counter down the left led to a hard-hit cross from Isaac Phiri. Unfortunately for the visitors, it bisected two of their own, but it was not far off.
As a unit, their forwards were harassing and hassling the Horseflies, putting them under the kind of pressure they hadn’t yet faced this season. The synchronisation and the effort were impressive to watch, as was the composure that DHS showed in dealing with limited time on the ball.
Where the Knights further impressed, and something that DHS might have been a little disappointed about, was their tenacity on defence in their own circle. The Horseflies managed a number of entries but, apart from that penalty corner in the first chukka, they were unable to garner any more shorties.
One of the reasons for this was how hard the Knights worked to pack the space when DHS penetrated deep into their half; there was little room to manoeuvre for the attacking team, and one beaten player meant only that another one would immediately be there to offer up another tackle attempt.
This was a real gut check type of fixture. Both teams were hard and physical, never taking a step back , and each question posed was met with an answer as firm as the question asked. No give, no easy balls, always challenging the other.
With DHS pressing high up the field, Veeshan Govender almost caught the home team out on the counter, carrying the ball at pace from inside the Northwood half. Ruben Pieters, however, put him under pressure, forcing Govender to spin before firing off a shot at the goalie, which Pieters was able to deflect just wide of the left-hand upright.
Then, good pressure from the Northwood press, resulted in a tackle from Govender heading directly at goal, leading to DHS ‘keeper Keelan Henry kicking the ball to safety.
DHS worked their way up into the Northwood circle, but goalkeeper Jagga, who represented KZN Coastals at under-16 level last year, cleared. DHS captain Lerou Dithlakanyane, exhibiting some remarkable close control, then picked up the ball, beat two players and centred, but the Northwood defence was able to sweep the ball away from the danger area.
In a game of high quality, it was exciting to see the best player on the field, SA under-21 star, Dithalkanyane rise to the challenge. His reading of the game and subtle skills were, at times, sublime. When he took a quick hit on the Northwood 23m and recognised an opportunity, he pinned his ears back and drove directly into the circle before getting off a shot that Jagga confidently gloved away.
“Lerou was incredible tonight. I think he was maybe the difference. In a big game like that, the big players step up. And the same on their side: I thought Tristan Boyall was exceptional at right link,” reckoned DHS coach Michael Baker.
After the break, the Knights enjoyed a strong start to the third chukka. Veeshan Govender made it into the DHS D and centred towards the penalty spot, but he couldn’t find a team-mate.
Justin Collins’ charges were enjoying their best period of attack in the match, penetrating deep within the DHS half time after time. Their persistence was rewarded six minutes in, when they found a DHS foot in the circle to win a penalty corner. The home side, though, managed to block the hit and then cleared from a subsequent re-award when Northwood found another foot.
Play moved up field into the Northwood 23m but, after a short period of pressure, the Knights, once more, returned to the DHS 23m where a dangerous cross across the face of goal nearly found an attacking stick.
Momentum switch
The momentum then switched back to DHS as they surged up field. A beautifully weighted pass from Dithlakanyane picked out Lumi Matwele. He slipped a cross for Lethabo Mathobela, with goalkeeper Jagga in all sorts of trouble. James Read, though, pulled off a quality interception to clear the danger.
Not long after that, with DHS pressing hard, skipper Dithlakanyane stole the ball and popped a pass into the circle. Northwood got a stick on it, with the ball rising high and bouncing up off of the turf. Josh Mungarera, grabbed the chance, knocking it goalwards, over the right shoulder of Jagga, and into the net to give the Blue Typhoon the lead.
With one chukka to go, DHS coach Michael Baker was noticeably far more demonstrative in the huddle as he passed on instructions to his side. On the side of the field, the home support was vocal and hearty.
It was fascinating to watch each side try to exert their gameplan on the other; Northwood forced DHS into their left-hand corner with heavy pressing, and DHS then manipulated their way up the field and into the Knights’ circle. Under pressure, Ben Bashford did an excellent job of intercepting a DHS ball towards the far post and then extricating himself from the sticks of the home side, which were flicking out, trying to jab the ball away.
With seven minutes played in the final stanza, Northwood received another penalty corner opportunity. A number of re-awards ensued as the Knights pressed for an equaliser. The tension was high, with the crowd hushed for each push-out.
On their third attempt, the Knights’ James Read worked a neat one-two to create an opportunity from close range. The ‘keeper was beaten, but his lifted shot was met on the line by DHS captain Dithlakanyane to preserve his side’s narrow advantage.
Still, Northwood were awarded another PC, but this time DHS was able to win a hit out.
In the last minute, the visitors were back at the top of the DHS D, with another penalty corner chance. DHS stood firm and the win went to the home side.
Winning coach’s comments
“That was a very good Northwood side,” DHS coach Michael Baker said to Pinnacle Schools after the game. “They didn’t let anyone relax throughout the game. The boys showed great character to win. That was a really tough game.”
Giving credit to the Knights, he added: “They had some really good players that threatened, that we didn’t manage at times. Our penalty corner defence was incredible tonight. They got good PCs and we managed every single one of them. I was proud of the guys for doing it so well.
“They’re one of the first sides that has full pressed us and put the back four under pressure. It was good to see the guys handle that pressure.
Identifying something that he would like improved, Baker said: “The thing that keeps letting us down is we need to convert our chances. We also needed a couple more penalty corners because there was some really good stuff that we didn’t reward.
“This was a big game for us, and we spent a lot of time doing video analysis. They definitely raised their intensity tonight, compared to other games I have seen them play. I think everyone is going to do that against us,” he concluded with a laugh.
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