The last game of the season saw University of East London record their best-ever win – an impressive 8-0 victory away against University of College London for the last game of the 2017/18 BUCS season.
The win at Southgate Hockey Centre was deserved for UEL, and the three points means they are currently joint second place with Queen Mary’s 3rd in the tier 5 North East London BUCS league. QM have one more game to play this season.
Hat-trick hero
Wednesday’s goals came from this season’s top scorer Josh Gwilliam (three), two goals from captain of the team Isaac Charles, and one each from defender Tim Li, Ho Fung and Phillip Wilson.
UEL started solidly, playing the ball around effectively with Gwilliam scoring twice through great team play.
A third by Charles inside 12 minutes all but secured the final result for the East London side.
From here UEL asserted their dominance on the game. Ho Fung scored his first ever goal in his last game for UEL men’s, followed by Charles’s second from a short corner. Gwilliam completed his hat trick, complemented by strikes from former captain Wilson and Li’s first goal for UEL, to seal a famous victory.
League finale
UEL have finished the league with eight points, and a record of two wins, two draws and two losses.
After the match Charles told Rising East: “UEL Hockey have roughly two months to train hard in order to remain in the hockey mentality.
“Last Wednesday was a massive game for us, a huge win where we showcased what we can do when we stick to our game plan.”
Farewell graduates
The season has concluded for the year and now it’s time for a few graduating players to depart the team.
Forward Robert Clover said “Wednesday’s performance is one the lads can be very proud of, especially for those who haven’t played for hockey long as it will give them belief they can take teams on and dominate them.
“It will get their confidence levels on point with those who have been playing for years, giving the lads heading to varsity momentum to try and win our game.”
The Varsity Challenge Cup is an annual sports competition against Anglia Ruskin. This year it will take place on April 18th and this time round UEL have the home advantage. It is a very important yet fun event that takes place towards the end of most team’s seasons, with both universities going head to head and battling it out in multiple sports.