Pelicans see home record ended

For the first time In 609 days, almost 18 months, Pelicans’ unbeaten run at home is over after an emphatic defeat to league leaders Peterborough.Pelicans’ base of Alive Lynnsport has been more commonly known as “the Sporttress” during the club’s fine run of form at home.Peterborough – relegated from the National League last season – were always going to be pretty useful at hockey, but when they can boost a former England/GB international in their forward line you know you’re going to be up against it from the first minute.The game was won by half-time with Pelicans finding themselves shellshocked and 6-0 down.It’s fair to say Dan Upton had a busy afternoon in goal but he was powerless to prevent the goals from going past him.Despite the best efforts of Chris and Iain Page, Ian Simmons, Jason Esser, Huw Mathers and Sam Major in front of Upton they just couldn’t live with the visitors’ movement up front.The Pelicans midfield of Kirwin Christoffels, Sam Landles, Jack Major, and Ollie Booth put in a real shift all afternoon but spent most of it like the rest of the side, on the back foot. Tony Phillips, Miles Doncaster, Jacob Craig and George Van Aalst didn’t get much go their way at all up front but kept on working hard to create any kind of opportunity. The second half saw Pelicans create a bit more on the attack and caused the league leaders some problems.They began to move better as a team off the ball and despite conceding two more goals to make the score 8-0, they did at least force a consolation goal from captain Phillips from a penalty corner which was well won by the determination of Major.Chances fell to Major, Van Aalst and Simmons who was a threat throughout with his intelligent movement off the ball but the scoreline didn’t get any closer. Despite the heavy defeat and a third in four matches for Pelicans, the immediate message from the squad was to draw a line under it and learn from this.With one final game of 2024 to go they will be keen to finish a fantastic year on a high as they travel to Saffron Walden.As for Peterborough, it’s safe to say if you finish above them, you win the league.Pelicans MoM, sponsored by 4Way: Ian Simmons.