Slazengers 3’s latest game was a home fixture against local rivals Garforth. In recent seasons these matches have been tough encounters against evenly matched sides. However, Garforth only had eight players and were up against it before the match had even started.

To their credit however, for the first 20 minutes it was the home team who looked like they were playing with 8 players. Their passing was slow and predictable and they kept on making the wrong choices across the pitch. Instead of playing with some composure and making the opposition work hard for possession they gave the ball away time and again.
It was no surprise when Garforth took the lead after 15 minutes, poor defending by everyone allowed an innocuous ball into the goalmouth to be deflected past keeper Darren Buttery. At least this set back stirred the Horbury team into action and slowly the passing and movement began to return and it wasn’t long before Slazengers scored an equaliser through Ted Richardson. This was quickly followed by an easy tap in for Dan Levitt who was on hand to take advantage of James Walker’s original saved shot. Half time score was 2-1.

Second half Slazenger’s improved greatly and began to use the width of the pitch to stretch the play and put a tiring opposition under the cosh. The numerical advantage began to tell as Slazengers scored at regular intervals throughout the half. Ian Hedges scored a well taken brace, Simon Taylor scored for the second time in as many weeks from a tight angle during a penalty corner, Byron Dean slipped the ball under the advancing keeper for one of his two goals and it was good to see James Walker find the back of the net with a great strike right at the death after unselfishly setting up several of the other goals.

It was to Garforth’s credit that they never gave up, their heads never dropped and they even managed to score another well taken goal before the end of the match. Final score 8-2.

Slazenger Mens 3’s finally got there season up and running with a deserved victory against Garforth 1’s.

Playing away against a team that in recent seasons has proved tough opposition it was the Horbury team that started the brightest, playing Byron Dean and James Walker up front, with good assistance from Luke Gueli and Ian Hedges on the wings.

It was Slazenger’s who took the lead when skipper Andy Fisher drilled in a fierce shot outside the goalmouth which hit the keeper on his pads before crossing the goal line.

Garforth immediately showed what they are about when within a couple of minutes they equalised due to a great solo effort from midfield, with an unstoppable shot drilled low to the keepers right.
Slazengers showed great resolve, immediately going on the offensive and quickly regained the lead when winger Danny Moakes swept a low drive just inside the post and just above the keeper. It was a theme that continued through the rest of the match that whenever Garforth scored Slazengers were able to quickly reply with a strike of their own.

Slazengers next goal came from a penalty corner, Luke Gueli saw his initial reverse shot saved but he was the first to react and flicked the ball high into the roof of the net over the keeper still laying on the ground. Luke quickly added a second with the best goal of the day when Byron Dean deflected a fierce pass towards James Walker who passed first time to Luke who again roofed the ball into the net.

Despite leading at half time Slazengers were conscious that the passing needed to be sharper and people needed to be making themselves available for easy passes.

Second half Garforth tried to increase the pressure on the Slazengers defence, whilst the away team were looking to retain possession better than they had in the first half. As the game became more stretched and Garforth took more chances as they looked to score Slazenger keeper Richard Smyth was called on to make some important saves.

Garforth were always dangerous at penalty corner situations and scored a couple of goals from them. However, each time the Horbury team responded with a goal of their own. First Man of the Match Danny Moakes scored his second of the game and finally Byron Dean, one on one with the keeper slid the ball under his diving body.

Final score 6-3.

Slazenger 3’s faced a top of the table clash away against Garforth in their latest division 6 south encounter and made the worst sort of starts when conceding an early goal to the hosts.

Fortunately, Slazengers weren’t behind for long when Dan Levitt managed to nudge the ball over the goal line after an earlier effort from skipper Andy Fisher hit the post and rebounded across the goal.

However, the warning signs were there for Slazengers that this was going to be a long afternoon. Time and again Garforth continued to break from deep, at pace and always had options to pass. Slazengers were having to work very hard to get a foothold in the game and whilst they did create several chances to score themselves during the first half, they failed to convert these chances. Tellingly Garforth didn’t miss their opportunities and went into the half time break 3-1 up.

The score would have been much worse but for a Man of the Match performance from keeper Richard Smyth who time and again had to provide the last desperate line of defence.

Second half Slazengers tried to play with more composure, keep possession better and pass to people in space.

Whilst, there was a slight improvement, the away team continued to conceded soft goals, often reacting second to loose balls or falling foul of a dodgy playing surface.

However, after going 5-1 down Slazengers suddenly woke up and began to compete, playing to restore a little pride. The passing was better, the away team made better use of Ian Hedges and Dan Levitt on the wings, with Robin Whawell and Ste Roberts working hard in midfield.

Aidan Hopkinson managed to convert after a long period of pressure and when Luke Gueli scored a third with 10 minutes to go, the hosts had to dig deep and defend in numbers to fend off a late resurgence.

Final score 5-3.

Slazenger’s top of the table clash against Garforth proved to be just as difficult as anticipated.

Despite shading the first 15 minutes of the match Slazengers were unable to capitalise on their superiority and this allowed the opposition to get back into the game.

Both sides worked tirelessly in midfield with Jack Mumford and Ste Roberts having to work especially hard in limiting the opposition to only a handful of attacking opportunities.

Unfortunately, Garforth managed to score with one of these chances to take the lead. Slazengers however, were not disheartened and sought a quick response.

Fortunately they didn’t have to wait too long before striker Any Birkett was able to convert a slightly scrappy goal. The half-time score was 1-1.

Second half was really just about Slazenger’s digging in and trying to impose themselves on the opposition.

Once again however Garforth were perhaps a little more clinical in front of goal and when on of the opposition strikers was left unmarked he gleefully converted a fierce strike into the goalmouth for Garforth to take the lead again.

Slazengers continually tried to use the width of the pitch with wingers Ian Hedges and Dan Levitt constantly making runs for the team.

The Slazenger’s equaliser was probably the best move of the match with 4 simple passes, from defence, into midfield, out wide to the winger and then crossed into the goalmouth for Man of the Match Luke Gueli to reverse hit the ball into the bottom corner for a memorable goal.

This rejuvenated the home side who went on the attack looking for a winner which duly came from Ste Roberts who gratefully converted a loose ball in the goalmouth, from a penalty corner.

Despite a couple of late scares Slazengers managed to keep the opposition at bay to take the three points. Final score 3-2.

Slazenger travelled away to Garforth 1st’s, looking for another win on the back of the previous weeks’ victory. However, its was not to be, as they fell to two last minute goals at the hands of the hosts.

Slazenger started quickly, though with the obvious absence of Skipper Andy Fisher. Ste Roberts and Luke Gueli controlled the midfield well, and with some fluid passing Garforth were quickly under pressure. Frustratingly, Slaz continue to struggle with their finsihing and were unable to convert pressure to goals. Garforth were quick and persistant on the attack and did break out several times, leading to several frantic end-to-end periods of play.

Unfortuntaley Garforth struck first, with a quick break-away earning them a penalty corner. This was duly converted putting them 1-0 up.

Slaz continued to press. A series of close efforts were unable to create an equaliser. Al Perrys’ effort went wide of the post and Steve Johnson managed to miss at least 5 (!) great opportunities. The continued pressure eventually paid off, with Johnson converting one of the many opportunites into an equaliser.

With the scoreline reset, the horbury team upped their pace. Youngster Rowan Tejura excelled in centre midfield, going close himself. A well worked run by Ian Hedges from deep in Slaz’ own half to the opposition’s “D” set up Andy Birkett to bag the lead with only 10 minutes to go.

Garforth seemed to redouble their effort, and forced through two further times, forcing errors and bagging 2 further penalty corners. These were converted to put them 3-2 up at the final whistle.

Slaz can take heart from the fact that goals were only conceded from short corners, not open play and their standard of hockey continues to improve.

Slazenger 3rd’s went into their confrontation with Garforth 1st’s looking for a win, though could only manage a draw.

The game started briskley with some fast flowing hockey. Wingers Luke Gueli and Man of the match Robin Brearton worked tirelessly to move the ball down the wings, opening the pitch and allowing midfielders to feed the strikers. Several chances went close, although a combination of strong defending and good goalkeeping from Garforth’s back line successful conversion.

Slaz were unable to convert, but a disallowed goal from Garforth spurred them into action. Redoubling their effort forced a quick break, giving striker Steve Johnson the time he needed to score the first, putting Slaz 1-0 up.

Coming out of the break, only a single goal seperated the two teams., but it was quickly negated by a goal from Garforth, taking advantage of a slip in concentration. Minutes later, Slaz struck back, with a flowing move between Ian Hedges and Captain Paul Corney. The ball was fed through the midfield to Hedges, who played it to Corney to finish.

Slaz continued to maintain the pressure, but was unable to find a further hole in the defence and without another goal, Garforth were always going to be a threat. Within the space of 10 minutes, they had scored a second and third. Slazengers back line worked to defend, but Garforth found space in the “D” to defeat ‘keeper Ralph Toon.

Slaz strengthened the defence, and a strong ball through from centre midfielder Paul Johnson, found the midfield.Steve Roberts who had worked tirelessly thoughout, sprinted into the oppositions “D”, to pick the ball up and slot it past the keeper.