Match Reports Below
Manchester's Captain, Gordon, wasted no time and swiftly opened the scoring for the home team. Less than five minutes later, D'Annatassio added to the excitement by notching a second goal, giving Manchester a 2-0 lead. Middlesbrough, however, was determined to level the playing field and soon found the back of the net courtesy of Johnson. Middlesbrough's persistent efforts paid off when L. Pickering equalised, making it 2-2. As the first half progressed, the game became a bit scrappy, but with just two minutes remaining, D'Annatassio completed his brace, leaving the score at 3-2 in favour of Manchester RHC at halftime.
The second half kicked off with Middlesbrough launching another spirited offensive. Johnson showcased his skills once more by securing his second goal of the match. Unfortunately for Middlesbrough, a momentary lapse in concentration allowed Manchester to capitalise, with three goals coming in quick succession – one from Darwent-Black and two from Carter. Middlesbrough did manage to pull one goal back, thanks to Czifra, but Manchester still had one more goal in them. With just 45 seconds left on the clock, Taylor found the back of the net, sealing a first-game victory for the new head coach, Dan Messenger.
In a thrilling encounter, Manchester RHC emerged victorious, 7-4, in their first game under the leadership of Dan Messenger.
2nd Game of the weekend featured a clash between Herne Bay RHC and Peterborough RHC. The match got off to a slow start, with both teams searching for opportunities. However, it was Peterborough who broke the deadlock when Hillam found the back of the net, just four minutes into the game. Herne Bay managed to level the score shortly after, with Webber scoring the equaliser. Herne Bay then took the lead with a long-range shot that deflected off a Peterborough player and ended up in the back of the net, with Salkind credited for the goal, making it 2-1 in favour of Herne Bay.
The second half commenced with both teams hungry for goals. A moment of brilliance came from Hillam, who volleyed the ball low and hard, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance to make a save. However, there was one more twist in the game, as Peterborough secured the victory with a goal from Aaltonen, sealing the final score at 3-2 in favour of Peterborough.