Slazengers mens 2nd team had a double header last weekend, entertaining Sheffield Hallams Mens 5’s on Saturday before travelling to York University mens 2’s on Sunday.

Saturdays game saw Slazengers go down 5-2 to an excellent Sheffield Hallam side. Hallam started brightly and immediately put Slazengers under pressure, playing a high press which Slazengers struggled to bypass. Slazengers were caught on the ball a number of times and found themselves 2-0 down midway through the first half. Slazengers pulled a goal back through Matt Green only for Hallam to add 2 more leaving it 4-1 at halftime. Some harsh words were spoken at half time and Slazengers came out determined to give Hallam more of a game and did exactly that. The 2nd half was a much more even affair with Hallam increasing their lead only for Slazengers to pull another back through Simon Randall after good work from Jack Mumford. Slazenger keeper Tom Murray shared the man of the match award with Matt Green.

Sunday saw Slazengers travel to York University looking to avenge a defeat earlier in the season and in the end, were very disappointed to come away with a 2-2 draw. York played good hockey, passing the ball well and playing a high press but were regularly caught out by Slazengers individual skills and pace in attack. York did take the lead but Slazengers drew level through Jack Mumford following a well worked short corner. Slazengers continued to press and it was left to the York keeper to make some excellent saves and a defender with a top notch goal line clearance to keep it level at the break. The second half saw an even game but with the Slazengers keeper and defence rarely troubled, it was the attack that took centre stage, Ben Graham played in Dan Atkinson who unselfishly squared for Mumford to net his second. As Slazengers looked to play out the game, there was still time for controversy after York were awarded a hotly disputed short corner. From this they scored an even more hotly disputed equalizer and despite numerous protests from the Slazengers defenace, the umpire allowed the goal to stand. Man of the match was shared between Jack Mumford and Tom Pitchforth who was excellent in midfield.

Slazengers Mens 2’s welcomed league leaders and promotion favourites Sheffield Hallam Mens 6th team on Saturday and came out with a well deserved 5-2 victory. Hallam would have expected an easier time having comfortably beat Slazengers earlier in the season however is was Slazengers who came out on top.

Slazengers were determined to get off to a good start and were immediately putting Hallam under pressure, allowing them no time on the ball and not letting them settle. Slazengers took the lead when a Ben Graham short corner was turned in by Matt Green. Hallam gradually began playing and were kept out by keeper Tom Murray who made some good saves. Slazengers continued to create chances however and double their lead when Jake Barras fired home from a tight angle. Hallam however weren’t to be denied and quickly pulled one back after a fortunate break and were level just before half time after grabbing their second.

You would have expected Hallam to come out on top in the 2nd half as the momentum was with them but it was Slazengers who kept on the pressure on and soon took the lead. Jack Mumford and Ste Roberts combined on a short corner resulting in Roberts calmly slotting under the keeper. Hallam were beginning to lose their cool with a number of players on both sides getting involved in a verbal battle but it was Slazengers who benefited when Mumford smashed home from the top of the ‘d’. Hallam continued to press but when it broke down in midfield, Graham drove forward and fed Barras to slot home his second leaving Slazengers 5-2 to the good.

The result leaves Slazengers 3rd in the league and still in the hunt for promotion however they will have to rely on results elsewhere going their way. Tom Murray took the man of the match award for some top quality saves.

Slazengers mens 2nd team shook off the cobwebs after a long Christmas break to come out 6-4 winners against Sheffield Hallam mens 5ths. In reality, there should have been further distance between the teams but a couple of defensive lapses by Slazengers allowed Hallam back into the game.

Ste Roberts opened the scoring for Slazengers with a well timed strike only for Hallam to hit back immediately following a defensive mix up. Slazengers were playing the better hockey and creating more chances and it was Jake Barras who was next on the score sheet, rounding the Hallam keeper before firing in a reverse stick strike from a narrow angle. Again though, Slazengers immediately switched off and Hallam equalised within a minute. There was time for Slazengers to take the lead before the break though when Jack Mumford got on the end of a neat move to slot the ball between the keepers legs.

The 2nd half was much of the same, Slazengers generally playing the better hockey and creating more chances only for Hallam to continue to peg Slaz back. It was the result of a Hallam attack that enabled Slazengers to increase their lead when a fast break through man of the match Matt Stacey resulted in Simon Randall getting on the score sheet. Hallam again pegged Slaz back before Stacey scored one himself getting on the end of Randalls cross for a simple finish. Mumford grabbed his second to increase the lead before Hallam nicked another late on to leave the final score 6-4 in Slazengers favour.