Loughborough - Away

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LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS 4 - 2 BEESTON

Image - Stephen Wood prepares in the Bees dressing room before his 300th National League game in the game shirt.

Beeston started the National Premiership with an away East Midlands derby against Loughborough Students. Beeston had Adam Dixon returning for the first time this season after winning a gold medal in England's victory at the European Championship, in Holland. Loughborough had all the play in the opening phase and went ahead in the 6th minute through a Richard Smith penalty corner.

Beeston who have had a disrupted pre-season, slowly pulled themselves together and Dixon pounced on a defensive mistake in the 25th minute, and slipped the ball to Carl Smith on his debut. Smith finished well past Great Britain goalkeeper, Ali McGregor.

The Bees could have taken the lead in the 28th minute but McGregor kept Jamie Parker at bay and the sides went into half-time equal.

Loughborough took the lead in the 40th minute when they countered quickly after Beeston gave away possession and switched the ball from left to right wing and then across the circle for Nick Catlin to score.

A minute later, Beeston quickly snatched possession from Loughborough; Zak Jones found Chris Seddon, in an ocean of space, and his weighted sweep beat McGregor.

The students powered back into the lead in the 45th minute, as they countered straight from a Beeston attacking penalty corner and 5 seconds later Chris Griffiths making his Premiership debut, swept the Students ahead.

The last twenty minutes saw the game swing from end to end. Easy chances fell to Loughborough's David Beckett and Marc Edwards. Beeston's , Martin Jones and Chris Seddon, were denied by McGregor but no one could find the crucial finish.

With Beeston chasing the equaliser, Loughborough eventually countered quickly and Chris Gregg killed the result in the 69th minute.

Beeston squandered numerous penalty corners and will need to address this aspect of their game before they meet Cannock on Saturday. (2.00pm at Highfields Hockey Centre.)