The men’s Capital League side started out strongly against Old Canberrans; evenly matched in the first half with no side having clear advantage.

With about 15 minutes to go in the first half, Goulburn got a penalty corner, but was unable to get the shot through the Old Canberran defence.

The same thing happened after they got a second chance penalty corner. This time, Old Canberrans cleared it.

About two minutes later, the ball was back with Goulburn attacking.

A high shot towards the net was neatly deflected off Brad Smith’s stick high into the goal, giving Old Canberrans’ keeper no chance to block it.

Goulburn was up one goal to nil. Play quickly switched from one end of the field to the other and, with a minute to go in the half, Old Canberrans made the most of a corner, the second of two against Goulburn and put a shot cleanly into the right hand corner of the net just out of reach of Goulburn’s keeper. At half time, the score was locked at a goal each.

This was definitely a game of two halves. While the two teams were relatively even in the first half, the same could not be said for the second.

Right from the hit off, Old Canberrans dominated and dictated the play.

Their efforts to keep Goulburn from scoring and the forwards solidly marked were paying dividends for the visitors.

Old Canberrans’ backs were particularly strong. Led by Seyi Onitiri, they effectively kept Goulburn out of their circle.

With well directed hits onto the Goulburn players’ feet or legs, they were able to use their penalties to direct long clearing hits to their forwards waiting near the top of the Goulburn circle to turn defence quickly into attack.

With 20 minutes to go in the half, Old Canberrans clearly had Goulburn on the back foot with two goals added since half time.

With 11 minutes to go they had increased the lead to four goals to Goulburn’s one.

At eight minutes to go, Old Canberrans forced another corner against Goulburn and, while not planting the first hit, were able to avoid Goulburn clearing the danger zone with the ball and slotted it into the gap.

Goulburn had no answer and no one in the clear at the top end to pass to.

The final goal of the match came with just over six minutes left.

With two and a half to go Goulburn was again forced to defend a penalty corner. This time, successfully; but after getting the ball back up to their attacking end, they lost possession and found themselves back on the defence trying to keep Old Canberrans from scoring again.