Brickwall defence from goalkeeper Alex Hilton guides Farmers to victory

Alex Hilton was inspirational in defence as the AgEtal Farmers secured their first win of the Club Glenvale Challenge.

Liam Pember (left) of AgEtal Farmers and Ashley Ziviani of SQPS Scorers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

HOCKEY: A masterful display in goal from Alex Hilton has helped the AgEtal Farmers to its first win of the Club Glenvale Challenge.

The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on the Farmers way to a 4-0 defeat of the SQPS Scorers.

Hilton’s brickwall defence kept the striking prowess of the Scorers at bay, with an early goal to Brad Messenger (7th minute), as well as final quarter strikes to Tom Burge and Carter Mogg (converted field goal).

Coach Greg Dean praised the efforts of the custodian, and credited the belief of his team for getting them over the line.

“We really played with a bit of structure. We tried to change it up a bit from the first week,” Dean said.

“Alex very much kept us in the game. He saved equally as many as we scored.

“He took a bit of a knock early on, but he played really well. Hopefully he will do the same again this week.”

With a full squad on hand, Dean said his team was able to take ownership of key aspects of the game, allowing him to focus on structures, which proved the difference in the end.

“We had a lot of reserves and I didn’t need to tell them too much,” he said.

“They showed a level of maturity and were able to manage themselves, which allowed me to get them into structures.

“They knew their lines and did a great job.”

They now sit in a share of second, one win behind the HSR Hot Shots, who made it back-to-back wins with a 6-3 defeat of Stafford’s Strikers.

A Josh McPaul field goal and conversion gave the Hot Shots a 2-0 lead inside the opening four minutes.

Josh Bidgood scored and converted, as did McPaul once again to open up a 6-1 advantage in the fourth quarter.

The Scorers moved to the top of the women’s standings with a 5-2 defeat of Ruhle’s Rebels.

Amber Suey gave the Scorers an early lead inside the first quarter, before Felicity Koch scored with a bonus goal to put the Rebels in front in the 22nd minute.

The Scorers immediately hit back, firstly through Xuan Mai Connor, then Suey brought up her hat-trick with a converted field goal to set up a 4-2 lead.

CS Vixens player Emily Payne (left) chases Stafford Strikers captain Holly Gilbar. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Katie Wollstein scored her second hat-trick in as many weeks to lead the CS Vixens to a 4-2 win over the Strikers.

Her field goal and conversion in the closing stages of the first quarter, along with Ebony Panzram’s strike to close out the third quarter gave them an unassailable lead.

Ella White scored two goals for the Strikers.

Originally published as Brickwall defence from goalkeeper Alex Hilton guides Farmers to victory