Captain Ashley Jackson struck the winner to help Ranchi Rays beat Uttar Pradesh Wizards by a solitary goal in a Hockey India league match on Sunday. Englishman Jackson scored in the 18th minute from a penalty corner to seal the win for the home side and maintain their second spot in the league table. The first quarter of the match saw a tactical game being played by both sides, trying to have a measure of each other. The UP Wizards kept Ranchi Rays at bay by holding the ball with their passing play. Their ball possession rate touched over 70 percent in the first quarter.
Ranchi Rays secured a penalty corner in the 18th minute and Jackson managed to slice in a magnificent goal, beating UP Wizards goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. The third quarter of the match witnessed a much intense game with the UP Wizards seen striving to level the scores with Ranchi Rays. The Wizards secured their second penalty corner in the match, but failed to convert it. Ranchi Rays held their ground till the end of the match as their defenders were at their best and thwarted all the attacks coming in from the UP Wizards.
Mumbai get first win
Mumbai: Dabang Mumbai carved out their maiden victory in the Hero Hockey India league when they edged past Kalinga Warriors 2-1 at home. Mumbai, who had drawn two games and lost three, thus kept their quarter final hopes afloat by moving past the lancers into the fifth place. For the visitors, it was their sixth defeat in seven games and it resulted in them moving to the bottom of the table.
Mumbai scored both their goals via penalty corners, through an indirect conversion by Australian defender Jeremy Hayward and through their penalty corner expert Harmanpreet Singh in the 18th and 42rd minutes of the game. Kalinga scored their goal, a fine effort from the field, through Mohd Amir Khan in the 42nd minute. The battle between the two outfits did not rise to great heights as far as speed and innovative moves were concerned. It was workmanlike hockey, at best.