After a full preseason and with much anticipation it was time for GC to begin the outdoor season for 2016/17 with a repeat of our first fixture from last season, away against Rot-Weiss Wettingen.
GC came into the match missing last seasons top scorer and fan favourite Jasper van Tilburg through a head injury in training but that did not stop them playing some very controlled hockey in the first quarter. Playing 3 at the back with Richner and Roloff as holding midfielders gave a stable platform at the back until a questionable foot in the D resulted in a penalty corner and a low drag flick gave Wettingen the lead.
Unfortunately GC were unable to fully settle in the second quarter and began to cede possession too easily as Wettingen had a ten minute spell of sustained pressure. A well taken first time backhand goal and another penalty corner drag flick would put Wettingen 3-0 up at half time with GC struggling to get into the circle and get chances of their own.
This was however a game of two halves as after the break GC began to have sustained pressure in the Wettingen half and a string of chances and breaks, none of which quite fell favourably for the GC strikers. Some more interesting umpiring then lead to a succession of cards, 2 green cards from the 1st half were followed by yellows for Landtwing and Roloff, neither of which were entirely clear. This put GC under pressure playing with 10 men but even with the numerical advantage Wettingen could not find a breakthrough.
The final quarter turned into a very free flowing contest much to the delight of the fans, there were a series of quick breaks from both teams and solid hockey from both sides. Towards the end of the match a tiring GC defence gave Wettingen time near the D and with a sharp piece of skill their striker converted into the roof of the net for 4-0 and that is how the match would finish.
Overall this was a solid performance from GC against the dominant team in this league and a good marker to build on moving into another away match next week against Black Boys in Geneva.
Man of the Match – Gero.