INTERNATIONAL Glenn Turner returned for his first game of the season after a long injury, to boost the Goulburn Geckos to a solid win over United.
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Playing only limited minutes Glenn was able to score two goals and give the team more confidence.
Turner started from the bench which gave him time to discuss with the other bench players strategic plays that could have benefited the Geckos level of possession. He also pointed out errors made by United that could have been capitalised on.
The first 10 minutes of play was very even with defence of both teams not giving opposing attackers any chances for a shot at goal.
Ten minutes in, Geckos receive their first penalty corner but it was well saved by United keeper Brendan Hill.
Thirteen minutes in, United strikers Iain Davidson and Stuart Shepherd started making inroads into the Geckos circle and United were awarded a penalty corner but the shot went wide.
Fifteen minutes and Brendan Hill made another fine save for United from a penalty corner. Two minutes later the Geckos started a promising move out of defence only to see the shot on goal go wide.
United took the lead after 20 minutes, when a quickly taken free hit caused a mix up in the Geckos defence and Stuart Shepherd skirted around the back of the Geckos defence to push the ball into an open goal.
In the 21st minute Glenn Turner was introduced into the game and straight away his prancing lifted the Geckos, who received three penalty corners in a row, but failed to convert.
The Geckos levelled the score after 27 minutes when Aaron Kershaw converted a penalty corner, equalling United with one goal each.
Thirty minutes into the game the Geckos took the lead when Turner scored after good lead up play from Daniel Fleming and Todd Devlin.
Goulburn was leading two goals to one. In the 32 minutes the Geckos were keeping up the pressure with the result of another penalty corner awarded to them which Aaron Kershaw converted to take their lead at halftime to three goals to united’s one.
In the second half the Geckos kept pressing forward and were on their game. In the 45th minute, Daniel Fleming scored when he and Todd Devlin produced a quick interchange pass, to put Goulburn a further point ahead.
The Geckos were on a roll and went to a five goal to one lead when Ben Staines set up Glenn Turner to score with a great backhand. 53rd minute.
United went on the counter attack and received two penalty corners but failed to convert either.
As sixty minutes of play ticked over the Geckos took their lead to six goals to one when Ben Staines scored from a penalty corner variation.
There were no further goals to either side after that and Goulburn took the game six goals to one. Best for Goulburn was Aaron Kershaw and Blake Robertson but in all it was a great team effort. Best for United was Iain Davidson and Stuart Shepherd who were dangerous in attack and goalkeeper Brendan Hill made some fine saves.
The Goulburn women after leading one goal to nil at half time went on to defeat United three goals to nil in a great result.
Both teams travel to Canberra next Saturday to play stiff opposition St Pats.