Stellar show by defence wins it for Ranchi Rays

Ranchi: On a cloudy Sunday evening here the Ranchi Rays defence finally lived up to its billing, eking out a nail-biting 1-0 win over Uttar Pradesh Wizards here at Astroturf Hockey Stadium.
The Rays defence has been their Achilles heel in this tournament so far, conceding 11 goals coming into this match, but on Sunday the Rays goal proved to be an impenetrable fortress.Looking determined to avenge their loss at home earlier in the tournament, the Jolie Wouter-led tourists began on an industrious note with forward Bob de Voogd putting the Rays defence under considerable pressure. With Birendra Lakra and Fergus Kavanagh holding fort, the Wizards could not have a look at the goalmouth.
The hosts soon obtained the first penalty corner of the evening and captain Ashley Jackson shot wide of the goal.
With the first quarter providing a stalemate, the talented Mandeep Singh orchestrated a brilliant run down the left in the second quarter to get the second penalty corner for the hosts. The irrepressible Jackson this time made no mistake to put the men in red and yellow ahead. Collecting the ball on his right, the Rays skipper made no mistake as his powerful and precise strike found the top-right corner of PR Sreejesh’s goal n the eighteenth minute of the match.
A goal down and looking to wrestle back midfield control, Spaniard David Alegre put the Rays defence under immense pressure. But Rays goalkeeper Tyler Lovell prevented the visitors from breaking even.
The Australian pulled off yet another astounding save as he stopped a VR Raghunath thunderbolt.
With the game seemingly played in only one half of the field, Jackson’s searing run down the right flank from a Barry Middleton pass finally bore fruit for the hosts as the Wizards conceded their fourth corner of the match in the third quarter. But Jackson’s effort was deflected over the goal by Sreejesh.
The Rays created two more opportunities in the fourth quarter, only for Mandeep and Jackson to shoot wide of the Wizards goal.