After going 4 games without a win, Slazengers were relieved to find 3 points again after running out 4-2 winners at home to University of Leeds mens 2’s.

Slazengers were boosted by the return of Will Buckley playing his first game of the season and immediately put Leeds under pressure creating a number of chances. Slazengers broke the deadlock after a quick break resulted in Daz Buttery finding Simon Randall who finished well from a narrow angle. Slazengers doubled their lead when captain Ben Graham picked up the ball in midfield, drove to the ‘D’ and finished well under the onrushing keeper to give Slazengers a 2-0 lead at half time.

Leeds must have had strong words as they came out of the break the better side and scored 2 quick goals to draw level. Slazengers settled back into their rhythm however and began controlling the game again with the Leeds keeper making a number of saves to keep them in it. Slazengers took the lead again when Graham grabbed his second following a goalmouth scramble and the points were sealed when Buckley got on the scoresheet in the final minutes.

Slazengers will look to build on this win away to Chapeltown on Saturday.

Slazengers Mens 2nd team had a double header this weekend. Saturday saw them travel to Leeds University 2’s and although putting in a below par performance, still came away with a 4-3 victory. Slazengers started well and created a number of opportunities but struggled to find the net when it seemed easier to score. The deadlock was eventually broken when Ted Richardson finished strongly on his reverse stick. Richardson grabbed his second shortly afterwards only for Leeds Uni to hit back straight away. Slazengers continued to battle and Richardson completed a first half hat trick to go into the break 3-1 up. The second half saw Leeds Uni immediately pull one back and then draw level mid way through the half. Slazengers were up against it for a while but managed to weather the storm and hit back with the winner shortly before full time, Simon Chamberlain withstanding a number of physical challenges before slotting home.

Sunday saw a much changed Slazengers 2’nd team travel to Lincoln for a cup fixture. The long journey and unfamiliar line up saw Slazengers struggle with Lincoln going 4-0 up inside the first 20 minutes. Slazengers could have been forgiven if their heads went down but they didn’t and began the fight back. Captain Ben Graham scored the 1st from a good short corner routine and Matt Stacey pulled another back after catching the Lincoln defense napping off a free hit. Graham grabbed his second before the break to go in at the half 4-3 down. Slazengers were eager to continue the fightback in the 2nd half and took the game to Lincoln, Graham completed his hat-trick off another short corner and Andy Birkett scored to put Slazengers in front for the first time in the game.

Lincoln were shocked into action and continued to introduce fresh legs from their subs bench, a luxury Slazengers couldn’t afford having only 11 players, and managed to draw level meaning the game went to penalty flicks. A total of 20 flicks were taken, 10 of which were in sudden death and despite Slazengers keeper Daz Buttery making 3 saves, Lincoln managed to score the decisive flick to go through.

Slazengers mens 2nd team continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-3 draw at home to Leeds Gryphons but in reality were lucky to get anything out of the game. Leeds came with a large squad and their extra legs paid off with Slazengers continually getting overrun in the midfield however some hard defending and good work kept Leeds out. It was Slazengers who took the lead when Jack Mumford’s speculative shot took a deflection off a defender to wrong foot the keeper and go in. The favour was repaid when a Leeds shot was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Murray Amesbury to go in at the break at 1-1.

The 2nd half was a similar affair, Slazengers working hard and trying to create things but Leeds ever changing line up had the edge. Leeds took the lead through a penalty stroke and then went 3-1 in front mid way through the 2nd half. Slazengers could have been forgiven for letting their heads drop and despite a yellow card for Ste Roberts, kept the scoreline as it was.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes, Slazengers started to get on top and were pressing the Leeds defence going close on a number of occasions. Ben Graham finally made the breakthrough slamming home a lose ball. Slazengers were left with 4 minutes to try and find an equalizer and did exactly that when Simon Randall got on the end of a good move to pull the Horbury side level. There was still time for Slazengers to press for a winner but in the end settled for the draw.