Oakleigh Havoc are still looking for three points after succumbing to an 8-1 loss to Panthers. Despite a fantastic defensive effort from Oakleigh, their opponents were simply too good on Tuesday night. A combination of quick passing and good ball retention undid a seemingly well-structured Havoc side which hoped to attack on the counter.
The first half was a low-scoring affair despite the high number of attacking chances created. From the start of the match, Oakleigh struggled to leave their defensive third. The Panthers attacked well down the flanks of the court and effectively utilized a "1-2" passing style albeit a final shot on goal. With the final pass and shot missing from their game, Havoc's opponents were unable to take full advantage of their opportunities and took only a 1-0 lead at the break.
The story of the second half was no different. Oakleigh, once again, found themselves on the back foot almost instantly. Panthers continued their dominance in posession before adding 4 goals to their tally. With tired legs added to the equation, Havoc's defence struggled even more as the game approached full-time. A late goal from Henderson was only consolation as Oakleigh's opponents went on to score another 3 goals before the game finished 8-1 in favour of Panthers.
Having faced the top two teams in the opening fortnight of the season, Oakleigh Havoc will have the best opportunity to grab their first points of the season over the coming weeks. Our Men's Second Team will be back in action on Tuesday night against Team X at 8:20pm.