Slazenger 4’s lost their previous encounter against Barnsley so it was very encouraging that Slazengers started this match with a high tempo and built penetrating attacks from the start. Using both flanks, the home side managed to get behind the Barnsley defence several times before one of these attacks resulted in a goal when Harry Bullock fortuitously managed to reverse hit the ball into the far corner. The keeper was undone by the speed of the shot and was expecting something a little harder than the tame shot that sneaked over the goal line.

Barnsley tried to get back into the game but resolute defending and tight marking throughout the team denied the opposition time on the ball. Aidan Hopkinson enjoyed a titanic struggle against one of the adult players and despite being up ended a couple of times kept on returning back to his defensive duties with renewed vigour. This galvanised the rest of the team to follow his example.

The game ebbed and flowed in midfield but the home team continued to create the better goalscoring opportunities either side of half-time, without increasing the single goal advantage.

The game turned in the space of ten minutes in the second half when Barnsley conceded 3 goals in quick succession.
Two goals were very similar with Ian Hedges and Matthew Stacey on either wing putting good crosses at pace into the goalmouth and the third came from a penalty corner.

The scorers were Tim Hunter, Aidan Hopkinson and Harry added to his earlier conversion.

Final score was 4-0 to the home side and just to mention Dave Gascoigne, at left half, making his league debut for the team who sufficiently gained in confidence in the second half to go on a skillful run down the wing in front of an appreciative crowd.

Slazenger 4’s next fixture is away at Airedale.

Slazengers continued in the same good form that they showed in their previous game, against this week’s opponents Barnsley. Again making good use of the flanks the Horbury side enjoyed the majority of the possession and created 5 good goal scoring chances within the first 25 minutes. Rowan Tejura and Robert Cann linked well on the right side and Tim Hunter was a constant threat on the left.

With Tom Pitchforth and debutant Matthew Stacey working well in midfield supporting striker Aidan Hopkinson it was a disappointed Slazengers that went into the half time interval with the score level. Second half Slazenger’s didn’t start as well and allowed the home side back into the game who were firing long range passes into the goal, hoping to pick up any loose balls. But for the composure of Danny Croxall and Chris Hopkinson in the Slaz defence the away team would have been struggling.

However, they persevered and started to get their passing game back and created several chances before a precise shot on goal by Tom Pitchforth was put into their own net by the Barnsley defence. There was time for a final scare when keeper Paul Corney had to keep 4 Barnsley attackers successfully at bay when the Slazenger defence decided to go AWOL.

Final score 1-0. Slazenger 4’s next game is at home against Airedale on 29/10 at 3.00pm.

Slazenger’s Development team finished off the season in style with an impressive performance against local rivals Barnsley.

Playing flowing hockey from the start, they quickly went on the offensive and created several goalscoring opportunities, through good link up play in midfield, with captain of the day Luke Gueli, orchestrating several penetrating attacks. Barnsley had their keeper to thank, for ensuring the game remained scoreless in the early minutes.

However, all this pressure did eventually pay off when Peter Gunning seized on a deflected shot within the goal mouth and gratefully put the ball in the net.

Once in front Slazenger’s never looked back and continued to score at regular intervals during the game. Next on the score sheet was Isaac Fisher who again converted after an initial save from the barnsley keeper. Left winger Alex Calderley capped a fine performance on the wing with the third goal just before half-time.

After the interval, Slazenger’s were momentarily caught off guard by a breakaway goal, defender Rowan Tejura deflecting a well hit shot on goal, away from the reach of Slazenger keeper Ralph Toon.

Other than this one aberration the Slaz defence, also consisting of Danny Croxall and Dave Smyth, coped effectively with every other Barnsley attack.

Slazenger’s quickly got back on track when Paul Corney swept the ball into an open goal from the top of the goal mouth following great forward play from man of the match Robert Cann. Slaz continued to press for further goals applying lots of pressure down the right flank with Ian Hedges working tirelessly, and despite winning several penalty corners it needed another simple tap in at the far post from Peter Gunning again to make the final score 5-1 to the visitors.

Te result means Slazenger finishes 3rd in the development league in their debut season.

Slazenger’s first league game since the Christmas break was a spirited affair against Barnsley. Both teams were evenly matched.

Barnsley enjoyed some early possession and quickly converted that pressure into a goal. Slazenger did respond to the set back and tried to start playing some quick, passing hockey. Unfortunately, after some attacking breaks in the opposition half they conceded two more sloppy goals. Both were very similar in that they left the defence isolated and Barnsley capitalised by leaving players up the field who converted their chances in front of goal.

For the last 10 minutes of the first half the Horbury side enjoyed the majority off possession and could have scored several goals but all opportunities were spurned. Luckily, a mis-timed shot from Robin Brearton sneaked through the keeper’s legs for a 3-1 half-time score.

Barnsley started the second half strongly and were gifted a fourth goal when a mis-timed pass in defence put one of the Barnsley strikers in on goal. Both sides continued to press for additional goals and Slazenger’s, although creating further scoring opportunities, continued to live dangerously at the other end with goalkeeper Ralph Toon making a couple of telling saves.

Slazenger’s began to dominate for the rest of the game with relentless pressure but still didn’t have the clinical edge in front of goal, that they needed if they were to level the game.

Fortunately, all the pressure did have some reward when Slazenger’s were awarded a penalty flick, which James Bennett duly converted, quickly followed by a football type celebration in the centre circle!!

Slazenger’s continued attacking strongly but failed to defend a simple pass upfield from the Barnsley defence which was duly converted. The game ended 5-2 to Barnsley.

By Andy Fisher
From match played at Barnsley Hockey Club on Saturday 15th January 2011