Kingston reach last 16 in hockey’s Conference Cup

Samuel McEvoy

 Jeremy Pringsheim scored the winner in extra time for a  2-1 victory over Middlesex and a chance to reach the South Eastern Conference Cup quarter-finals.

Pringsheim, 20, a Portuguese music tech student, calmly slotted home  after an unlucky Chris Podd shot rebounded off the post and fell straight to the match-winner.

“I played pretty well, definitely personally and as a team towards the end of the match. I haven’t played hockey in a while before this match so I’m a bit out of touch but I tried putting in a bit of effort to make up for that,” Pringsheim said.
 

First Half

Kingston started the game brightly by pressuring Middlesex into their own half. All the chances came from Kingston with the Middlesex keeper having to make multiple saves.
 

Middlesex replied with good counter attacks as Kingston committed two thirds of the team forward.
 

Rob Field put in another man-of-the match performance after splitting open the Middlesex defence with a number of winding runs and bursts of speed down the wings with chances going narrowly wide.
 

Podd almost scored the opening goal during a strong finish to the first half. He broke on the counter attack and rounded his defender. Itt was only a fine save that prevented Middlesex from conceding the lead.
 

Second Half

Middlesex began the second half pressing for an opening goal but Kingston’s defence stood strong. Middlesex may have had more of the chances but Kingston’s shot-stopper, Barney Christopher, denied them several times.

Middlesex looked to have won it late in the game after a fabulous finish gave them the lead despite Kingston’s domination.

Moments later, Kingston levelled with Field running across Middlesex’s defensive back-line and striking a fierce reverse stick screamer across the Middlesex keeper which was undoubtedly the goal of the game to put the match into extra time.

Extra time

If the tie was not decided in extra time the game would go to penalties.However, Podd raced through on goal after a quick breakaway.

Podd’s fierce shot clattered off the post but, fortunately for Kingston, it fell right into debutant Pringsheim’s path. The Portuguese composed himself, controlled the ball and slotted home neatly, wrapping up the victory.
 

Middlesex statistics

This victory for Kingston also ends a winning a streak of eight consecutive games in all competitions for Middlesex in which they have scored an astonishing total of 87 goals whilst managing at least seven goals a game since January 25 2012.