Weekly Update
An update of this weeks fixtures and last weeks results
Last Week’s Results
Ladies 3rd’s take “Team of the Week” for their spectacular 11-0 result over University of Leeds 8’s, which also makes them the highest scoring team in the senior club. Notable mentions also go to mens 5th’s for their 9-1 win over Halifax 5th’s, and to the Ladies 1/2 and 3/4 cup teams who both won their fixture, progressing to the next round.
Top Goalscorers
7 Goals – Asad Baig, Caro Schofield
5 Goals – Jimmy Swinden, Will Gascoigne
4 Goals – Ben Jackson, Frankie Tyrrell, Cherry Bedford, Natasha Wiper
Last Week’s Match Reports
Men’s 1st’s (2) vs. (3) Leeds 4th’s
The men’s firsts were away to Leeds on Saturday for what is always a tough encounter. Leeds play a well practiced game, one they no doubt work hard on in training. Slazenger in contrast, light on defenders, rolled the dice on a revolutionary formation that’s not seen the light since the days of Will Buckley. For the first phase of the game the gamble didn’t appear to pay off, Leeds went a goal up with 10 minutes, but there were signs it may not be all one way…
As Slazenger began to settle into the adjusted formation their conviction grew, Jimmy Swindon capitalised on this phase of play with a great strike into the top corner of the net. A period of committed defensive play then followed from Slazenger that saw half time arrive to a respectable 2 -1 score line.
The firsts started the second half quietly confident that they may actually steal a point from this away encounter. Confidence that was soon rewarded when Perry fired home to level the score line. With a quarter of the game left however Leeds stepped up a gear, Slazenger with little left in the legs struggled to hold them back, and with just minutes to go Leeds passed their 3 goal into the net to take the win. Slazenger would have always been fortunate to get something from this game, but with a handful of aerials from Chamberlain may be there is life after Midgley…?
Men’s 2nd’s (3) vs. (4) Huddersfield 2nd’s
Slazenger 2nd team came out second best from an ill-tempered encounter with their opposite numbers from Huddersfield. Slaz started poorly, having to absorb the strength of an attacking Huddersfield team. However, following some strong defensive play, the team to settle and begin to make progress. A breakaway goal from Asad Baig put the team ahead 15 minutes in. This settled the team, and Slaz began to play some more expansive passing hockey in spells. However, Huddersfield continued to be a threat and equalised before half time.
In the second half, Slaz failed to play the self assured hockey of previous weeks, and Huddersfield took advantage of 2 breaks to put themselves in a commanding lead. Tempers frayed and it appeared to be an even larger mountain to climb when Baig was carded and the team were reduced to 10 men to battle on. However, some strong attacking work by Ben Jackson and Ian Hedges, put Captain Ben Graham in to score a brace; 1 from open play, and the second from a penalty flick to equalise the game.
Unfortunately, it was not to be and a defensive error gave Huddersfield a short corner in the final minute from which they took the spoils. Slaz look to get back to form next week with a double header: away at Harrogate and then at home on Sunday in the Cup quarter finals.
Men’s 3rd’s (2) vs. (4) Sheffield Bankers 5th’s
Slazengers 3s face Sheffield University Bankers in the 4th round of the league. Spirits were high having secured their first win of the season the game before with a 3-2 result against Sheffield Hallam.
Slaz started off quite well pressuring the Sheffield defense with high intensity, however it was Bankers who withstood the pressure, and counter-attacked to score an early goal against the run of play. With Slazengers 1-0 down, they kept on battling, with Tim Carr securing a goal to make it 1-1.
After half time, Slazenger looked to be running low on energy, compounded by star player Mathew Banks sustaining an injury and leaving the visitors with no subs. However, a resurgence of energy saw Slaz pull ahead, with Chris Stevenson netting to make it 2-1.
Sheffield restarted quickly, breaking away to equalise 2-2 with ten minutes to go. With fresher legs and substitutes, Bankers continued to press and were rewarded with 2 goals in 5 minutes as Slaz faded. Man of match went to ‘keeper Harry Buttery, who having only just come back from an injury, pulled off enough saves to keep Slaz in the game.
Men’s 4th’s (1) vs. (4) Leeds Adel 5th’s
Mens 4ths lost 1-4 away to Leeds Adel 5th’s. Slazengers goal came from Davey Ramsdale.
Men’s 5th’s (9) vs. (1) Halifax 5th’s
After 3 consecutive tough weeks Slaz entertained a Halifax team just getting to grips with the transition to adult league hockey. Slaz were eventual winners 9-1 but the score was the least important element of the game. The game was played in the best of spirits, Halifax never gave up and the Slaz boys showed maturity and respect. Goals went to Will Gascoigne (5), Tommy Randle, Fraser Cass and Josh Green (2) who was voted Man of the Match.
Ladies 1st’s (1) vs. (3) Bridlington 1st’s
The ladies first team played Bridlington on Saturday. A game of 2 halves saw Bridlington taking their chances on the break leaving the home team 3:0 down at half time. Slaz came out more determined and structured in the second half. Passing the ball well there were a number of chances created. Slaz broke the second half deadlock with an amazing sweep by Captain Tyrrell sending the ball above the Bridlington keeper into the top corner of the net. Unfortunately the home team were unable to capitalise on their time in the opposition’s D and the final score remained a disappointing 3:1. The ladies take on Lindum in the cup on Sunday before travelling to York next week for a 3:30 push back
Ladies 1st’s/2nd’s Cup Team (3) vs. (1) Lindum 2nd’s
The ladies 1’s and 2’s joined forces on Sunday for the first round of the Yorkshire cup, and both were hoping for their 1st win of the season against Lindum 2’s. Slaz were determined from the start and applied the pressure early with Tyrrell and Field passing it around the Lindum defence to give an early lead. Lindum hit back and tested the Slaz defence but Ritchie and keeper Wilson remained strong. A short corner was fired passed the keeper to put Slaz 2 ahead. Not content with this, a strong cross from Whittam was anticipated by Gilbert the elder and deflected into the top corner.
Half time 3:0 – hurray! With sun in our eyes the second half started a little slower, but the team stayed strong and after much time in the attacking half Tyrrell’s aerial shot found Gilbert the elder who batted the ball into the goal, 4:0. Lindum broke late in the day and managed a consolation goal in the closing minutes but Slaz were already celebrating a second round tie which takes us to Thirsk in 2 weeks time.
Ladies 2nd’s (1) vs. (3) Colne Valley 1st’s
Slaz 2’s entered the game against local team Colne Valley with a positive mental attitude. The team are starting to adapt to playing with a greatly changed squad from the prior season and a new formation to suit a forward and midfield heavy team. The first half was well fought with some great defensive and attacking play by Slaz. The squad looked composed on the ball, with all team members working hard both dropping in defence and pushing up in attack. Short corners were well defended and stopped a number of potential scoring opportunities for Colne Valley. There were a couple of great opportunities for Slaz in the first half, notably a great piece of break away play that unfortunately, the forwards were unable to convert. At half time the score stood at 1-0 to Colne Valley. There were some great passages of play and the team entered half time positively, with the performance being a massive improvement on the previous week.
In the second half the team continued to work hard in warm conditions, unfortunately allowing Colne Valley to break during a turnover and the score stood at 2-0. The team kept pushing, spending a lot of time in the opposition 23 and soon this paid off, with a right slip from the P spot by Tuscany to Lucy, forcing an error by Valley and the score stood at 2-1 with 3 minutes remaining. A last push by Slaz was however, not enough with Colne Valley securing and converting a short corner in the final minute of the game. Final score 3-1, but on the whole a massively improved performance by the team and a great morale booster at this point in the season. Player of the match went to Alex, opposition player to Lucy.
Ladies 3rd’s (11) vs. (0) Leeds University 8th’s
Slazenger’s Ladies 3s traveled to north east Leeds for a fixture which saw top of the table Slazenger’s pitted against bottom of the table Leeds University 8s. The first 5 mins of the match quickly highlighted that it was due to be a game that would be dominated by the visitors. Early pressure saw Slazenger’s take the lead after only 5 minutes with a penalty corner after a number of previous attempts were thwarted by the Leeds keeper. The first half followed the same pattern as the first 5 minutes with numerous attempts from the Slazenger’s forwards, 3 of which were rewarded to take Slazenger’s 4-0 leaders into the half time break, although Leeds were grateful to their keeper for not allowing it to have been doubled by half time. The Slazenger’s defence were untested and the Slazenger’s keeper had no touch of the ball throughout the first half.
The second half continued in the same vain with constant attack by Slazenger’s, Leeds managed to enter the Slazenger’s ‘D’ once with keeper Beth Prince having her first and only touch of the ball. But Slazenger’s increased their goal tally with a further 7 goals making the final score 11-0; 5 goals going to Caroline Schofield, 3 to Aleks Karpinska, 2 to Lauren Fealy and 1 to Natasha Wiper. Joint player if the match went to Caroline Schofield and Lauren Fealy. The end result meant Slazenger’s Ladies 3 maintain their position at the top of the table and cemented Leeds University 8 place firmly at the bottom.
Ladies 4th’s (2) vs. (6) Wakefield 5th’s
The ladies 4th teams winning streak is over. Facing Wakefield’s 5th team at home the sun was shining and the team were hopeful but it wasn’t to be. Wakefield started strong and within 10 minutes scored their first goal but it was only after they scored twice more that Slazengers Cherry Bedford pulled one back. At half time the ladies left the pitch 3-1 down but came back out determined and made some good runs but couldn’t prevent Wakefield pushing through the defence. Wakefield were first to score again and despite a further goal from Cherry, Slazengers lost 6-2. Player Sue Hope.
