From England to Europe, when Old Georgians score it usually comes from a Carson brother. On Thursday, James Carson scored a decisive hat-trick, including a divine link up with Ashley Jackson, to send Old Georgians into to a first ever ABN AMRO EHL FINAL4 as they beat Club de Campo in a feisty affair.
The English club — missing Kyle Marshall, Sam Ward and James Alberry with injury — ousted the Spanish club 4-2, but it was far from easy as the English defence played superbly. They set up a semi-final against hosts Pinoke, who also reached the same stage for the first time.
Lee Morton’s long ball found Carson who controlled the ball into the path of Alan Forsyth. His shot was blocked but Carson followed up and popped it in for OGs’ first.
His next was a special one. Ashley Jackson’s long overhead was perfectly controlled and then thrashed into the net for 2-0.
Enrique Zorita pulled one back from a corner and it was level in the second half via Jose Basterra from another set piece to make it 2-2.
Campo, though, were frustrated not to add more to their total as, twice, they were denied goals from corners for the ball not leaving the circle before the first strike.
OGs, meanwhile, dug deep in defence and then countered directly. Carson burst through a tackle and smashed through the Campo defence to make it 3-2 in the 40th minute.
And they finished off the victory in the last minute when another long overhead made it to Forsyth who popped into an empty net.
Joep Troost’s single goal saw Pinoké advance to the Final4 for the first time as they saw off a big Real Club de Polo challenge.
The winner came in the 22nd minute after a mad scramble in the circle. Boris Aardenburg finally got the ball out of a mix of sticks and crossed under his arm to Joep Troost who had a simple finish.
In the women’s EHL, Mannheimer HC survived a last minute equaliser from Club de Campo de Madrid to eventually reach the FINAL4 via a perfect shoot-out.
It set up a date with another Spanish side, Junior FC, on Saturday for a place in the final. East Grinstead play Amsterdam later on Friday.
