21.10.07 : Servette HC – Grasshopper Zurich

The game started tentitively with Servette playing the better flowing hockey but never really used their possession to test the opposition’s keeper, and, when they did manage to create an opening, the normally sure touch and finishing of the Servettiens let them down. As in previous weeks the team failed to convert there possession in the oppositions ‘D’ into shots or corners. In fact Servette only managed to get one corner all game, which was dealt with by Grasshopper with ease as the initial strike was blocked allowing the keeper to rest easy, an area where Servette must improve if their target of improving on last seasons third place is to be realised. At the interval the score remained 0-0, with Grasshoppers not really causing too much concern for the Servette defence, and coach David Smith encouraged the team to remain calm and keep playing their hockey and dictate the game, expressing the need for the forwards movement to be more astute and to use the ball more sensibly in and around the ‘D’.

The second half began again with Servette in the ascendancy but Grasshoppers were now starting to push forward and chance their hand. Servette came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when Jurka Rickli cleverly worked an opening into the D and fired a reverse stick shot agonisingly wide of the left post with the keeper well beaten. The next chance fell to Grasshoppers….as a lapse in concentration from Servette saw a Grasshopper forward with what seemed like an unmissable opportunity to score with an open goal, however he somehow managed to fire the ball back across goal and wide, much to the relief of every watching Servettien. It was Monsieur Peny who was to open the scoring, however unfortunately it was not Servette’s Bertrand, but his brother who picked up the ball at the top of the D and was pushed well wide onto his reverse side, where he struck a speculative reverse shot which was scuffed and fortunately found its way into the bottom right corner of the goal, 1-0 Grasshoppers. With ten minutes remaining coach David Smith made an attacking tactical change to five forwards in the pursuit of a goal, and for the remaining minutes Servette were camped in the Grasshopper half, finding their way into the ‘D’ on numerous occasions, but it was not to be. Even when corners had been won, or so most people thought, the umpires interesting interpretation of the advantage rule seemed to baffle the Servette players and even the Grasshoppers defence… much like the England rugby teams and fans bemusement at the ‘try’ that never was on Saturday night in Paris, Servette felt hard done by an official…

But, as referees in every sport are scrutinised and often used as excuses for failure, the Servette team must accept the responsibility for this defeat and them alone who must get their season back on track if winning the LNA is to be achieved, a big task, but not impossible. Remember, it’s not over till the fat lady sings, and at present she doesn’t even know where the microphone is or what songs she’s going to be singing!

Mark Northcott