Weekly Update
An update of this weeks fixtures and last weeks results
Last Week’s Results
Ladies 1st’s take “team of the week” after a spectacular 5-0 victory over University of Leeds 3rd’s. Notable mentions go to Mens Vets team for beating Adel and progressing to the next round of the England National Cup, Mens 2nd’s 5-3 win over Brigg 3’s, and Slaz 3/4 cup team for getting to the cup final after their win at Halifax!
After 54 goalscorers, and 136 goals, October’s Golden Stick Award has come to an end. Top goalscorer will reset for November; Good Luck everyone and congratulations to Octobers winners!
Top Goalscorers
8 Goals – Caro Schofield, Richard Tuddenham
7 Goals – Jimmy Swinden, Asad Baig,
5 Goals – Will Gascoigne, Ben Jackson, Natasha Wiper, Linda Stacey, Cherry Bedford, Ben Graham
Last Week’s Match Reports
Ladies 1st’s (5) vs. (0) University of Leeds 3rd’s
Still celebrating last weeks victory over York, the Ladies 1’s hoped to climb up the table further with a win over Leeds university 3’s.
Starting strong the ladies took an early lead after a cross from mini Minch was taken by Tyres on the reverse and flicked passed the university keeper. Maintaining a steady position in their attacking half Slaz continually applied the pressure. Bubbles Bates in the midfield (determined to give her student friends a lesson) continually picked the pockets of their midfield with grace. Leeds struggled to beat the beautiful press and a second goal came after Field took her chance dancing around the defence before laying the ball to Paige – half time score 2:0.
The start of the second half Slaz knew that an early goal would be crucial, Tyres did not disappoint, after a cross from Paige she tapped the ball in at the back post. The forth followed shortly after when Field took a reverse shot from the top of the D which beat the keeper into the bottom corner.
Leeds battled on, looking for a consolation goal and with a plethora of short corners kept out by the defence realised that it may not come. A final goal from Field this time struck from the top of the D made the final score 5:0 – A well earned clean sheet, the first of the season for Wilson.
Special mention goes to Eley, super (although a little reluctant) sub who made her debut for the 1’s after a first half injury to Whittam.
MVP: Mini Minch for her awsome distribution and pressure in the Leeds defence and Tyres for splendid skills in the D.
Ladies 2nd’s (0) vs. (4) Sheffield Bankers 2nd’s
Ladies 2s travelled to Sheffield to face another tough fixture against Bankers. With half term unavailability again causing problems throughout the ladies section the visitors were missing some of their regular players and travelled with a bare 11, thanks to Sue Hope, Lauren Fealy and Lizzie Tunstall for stepping up and making the trip.
The match was played in much the same vain as Slaz’s previous matches with some good passages of play and numerous attempts in the Banker’s D being thwarted but it was Bankers who took the lead by playing smart hockey moving the ball well in space and round the back. Slaz were down to 10 for a spell in the first half after Lucy Brereton had to leave the field following an elbow to the head, however the way Bankers were playing it seemed as if they had more players on the pitch than Slaz for the whole half and the visitors were 2-0 down at half time.
In the second half a tired Slaz 11 continued to battle against a fresh legged 14 strong Bankers. Despite some good runs down the flanks and some further chances in the Bankers D, Slaz were unfortunately unable to convert. Whilst at the other end of the pitch despite some good clearances by the Slaz keeper and defence the home side slotted in a further two goals with the game finishing 4-0 to bankers.
Ladies 3rd’s (0) vs. (0) Huddersfield 1st’s
Slazenger’s Ladies 3 were still undefeated going into this match and from the start drove forward with great midfield play from Justine Birkett and Emily Entwistle with precision distribution to the forwards who put the keeper under pressure from the off. Aleks Karpinska came close early on with a cracking strike that just was inches wide of the post.
Slazenger’s continued to attack the Huddersfield defence but their keeper played a blinder stopping the ball crossing the line. Huddersfield broke a number of times but our defence, Emma Eley, Sarah Hobbs, Maisie Fallas and Esther Hill were in control with player of the match Esther Hill (whose improving week on week) making solid tackles and thwarting Huddersfield breaking through. Slazenger’s totally dominated the first half and were unlucky not to be in the lead.
In the second half, Huddersfield came out with renewed force, but Slazenger’s held firm in defence with keeper, Lauren Hattersley only having to make a small number of saves. Slazenger’s had a number of chances in the D but were made safe by a strong Huddersfield defence.
Slazenger’s continued the pressure and form Natasha Wiper persistency and skills in the D secured their only short corner of the match. Unfortunately, Slazenger’s were unable to convert and the match finished as a frustrating 0-0 draw.
Ladies 4th’s (1) vs. (3) Sheffield Hallam 4th’s
The ladies 4th team continue with their mission to finish anywhere mid table so were not too disappointed with their loss this week. Playing away against Sheffield Hallam 4’s, the game didn’t start well with Sheffield scoring within the first 5 minutes and soon had two further good shots on goal that saw keeper, Lauren Hattersley dropping to the floor preventing balls finding the net.
Cherry Bedford found the equaliser and Slazengers were back in the game. Unfortunately a controversial decision just before the half time whistle gave Sheffield a short corner with the ladies leaving the pitch 2:1 down.
Slazengers struggled to find their previous winning form in the second half although did manage to hold off Sheffield scoring again until the last 10 minutes and the game ended 3:1 to Sheffield. Lauren Hattersley and Sarah Allen took the players vote.
Slazenger’s Ladies 3/4 v Halifax 4/5 Division 5 Cup Game – 29/10/17
Slazenger’s travelled to face Halifax for the semi-final Division 5 Cup Round game.
Slazenger’s game plan from the start was to go for the win and Slazenger’s start hard from the off, dominating the game. Slazenger’s kept the game in the Halifax ‘D’, with numerous shots on the goal, which were saved by a very good Halifax keeper. Halifax got a break and quickly took the ball down into the Slazenger’s ‘D’. However, the attempt on goal was well defended by Lizzie Tunstall. Halifax where awarded a short corner, which was saved just in front of the line by Justine Birkett. The ball was quickly passed back up the pitch between the Slazenger’s players, and a good passes in from Mia and Maisie Davies, saw the ball connect with Josie Hughes stick and hit the back board for a well-deserved goal. Halifax came back on the attack, with numerous attempts on goal, these where thwarted by excellent defending from Maisie Fallas, Julie Bailey, Lyn Wood, Emily Wood and Emma Eley.
Half time score Slazenger’s 1 – 0 Halifax
Second half saw Halifax attack hard from the start, making various attempts to get into the Slazenger’s ‘D’. Again excellent defending from Slazenger’s thwarted these attempts. Quick passing saw Slazenger’s attack up to the Halifax ‘D’. Only to be unable to put the ball passed the keeper.
Halifax quickly picked up the ball and good passing saw it back down the pitch and into the ‘D’, to be picked up by an outfield Halifax player and connected with the backboards for Halifax to score. Bringing the score to a 1-1 draw.
Slazenger’s immediately went on the attack to try and bring the score above, but this was thwarted by the Halifax keeper, with some good saves. Halifax quickly moved the ball back down the pitch for an attack on the Slazenger’s defence. This was stopped by the umpires calling full time.
Score ended 1-1, which meant that the decider had to come from PENELTY FLICKS. Both teams were asked for 5 players. Slazenger’s won the toss and opted to go first. Slazenger’s players – Maisie Fallas, Lauren Fealy, Julie Bailey (lost rock, paper, scissors to Justine Birkett), Diane Jones and Josie Hughes all stepped forward to take flicks.
Each team took it in turns to take a flick, Lauren Fealy scored 1st for Slazenger’s, and Diane Jones put in the 2nd goal. Excellent saves from Lizzie Tunstall saw the final score Slazenger’s 2 – 1 Halifax. Player of the match went to Lizzie Tunstall.
Final score Slazenger’s 1 – 1 Halifax, following penalty shootout Slazenger’s 2 – 1 Halifax Slazenger’s 3/4 go through to the Division 5 Cup in April.
Men’s 2nd’s (5) vs. (2) Brigg 3rd’s
Slazenger men’s 2nd team recorded back to back wins for the first time this season with a comfortable 5-2 home win against Brigg 3’s. Slazenger started brightly and controlled the early exchanges eventually making the breakthrough when Jez Whawell broke into the ‘D’ and fired home for his first goal of the season. Slazenger soon doubled their lead when Owen Bland showed some skill and buried a reverse stick strike from a narrow angle. Brigg tried to get back into the game but Darren Buttery in the Slazenger goal was cleaning up well at the back to preserve his clean sheet. It was 3-0 at the break thanks to Mark Hammond who netted his 3rd in 2 games.
The second half saw Brigg trying to press forward with Slazengers happy to soak up the the pressure and hit Brigg on the counter, a tactic which was working well only for the tables to be turned. Slazengers lost the ball on the edge of the Brigg ‘D’ and a fast counter saw Buttery stranded in goal allowing Brigg to pull one back. Slazengers immediately hit back through Harry Gunning and when Bland grabbed his second, staying alive to the opportunity when everyone else stopped expecting a whistle, the game was Slazengers. There was still time for Brigg to pull another back in the final minutes but in the end, Slazengers ran out 5-2 winners. Jez Whawell took the man of the match award closely followed by Owen Bland.
Men’s 3rd’s (3) vs. (2) Leeds 7th’s
Decimated by injuries and languishing low in the table, Slazenger 3rds knew they would be in for a tough game against Leeds.
Starting strong, Slazenger pushed forward in numbers, setting the pace. Despite his near career-ending tap on the knee two weeks ago, Matt Banks, ably assisted by Andy Fisher, controlled the game through midfield. Slazenger had their chances but couldn’t quite find the back of the net, Tim Carr’s looping shot denied by the woodwork.
Despite Slazenger controlling much of the half, Leeds were first to strike, slotting the ball home just before half time.
After a Churchillian half time talk from captain and Man of the Match, Simon Taylor, Slazenger came out in force. Fearless attacks from Alan Perry and Jack Lee creating chance after chance for the Slazenger attack. Their persistence finally paying off with Tim Carr thumping the ball home to even the scores. By this point Slazenger could smell the points, and piled on the pressure, taking the lead a few minutes later when Scott Carruthers drilled the ball across the line.
This woke Leeds up and they attacked in numbers trickling the ball over the line to even the scores once more.
The points were up for grabs, and it was down to who wanted it most. Slazenger continued to control the game across the pitch. Fantastic defence from Simon Taylor and debutant Josh Swallow squashing attack after attack from Leeds. At the other end of the pitch Sam Haigh finally thundered the ball home to re-take the lead for Slazenger. Leeds were running short on time and despite a flurry of late chances, Harry Buttery managed to keep Slazenger safe in the dying minutes of the match (ner ner ne ner nerrrrr!)
Slazenger 3s host mid-table rivals Doncaster, 3pm at the Stade de Slaz on Saturday.
Mens 4th’s (2) vs. (1) Chapeltown 4th’s
Slaz 4s looked to avenge last weeks poor results against Chapeltown 4s at home.
Slaz started brightly and created chances through the front line of Ben Mace, Davy Ramsdale and Chris Flavell. Eventually Slaz scored through debutant Ben Mace to lead 1-0. Chapeltown quickly reacted and piled on pressure but Slaz held on to lead at half time.
After the break Chapeltown continued to pressurise the Slaz back 4 and eventually it broke as the away side equalised. Then the home side looked to correct their mistakes and kept the ball much better. The home side then converted a short corner through Will Fealy and held on to win their first game since the second game of the season.
Mens 5th’s (1) vs. (0) Ben Rhydding 6th’s
Slaz were outstanding! From the outset the midfield passed the ball around, retained possession and used every inch of the pitch, meaning a much easier week for the defence than last. The game was decided by a single goal – Alex Stacey receiving the ball outside of the 23m line from a free hit and making a solo run that beat at least 5 players before slotting home.
The man of the match vote was split evenly between Amazing Amrayz, Wonderful Will, Fantastic Fraser and Astounding Alex, so the Captain’s casting vote gave it to the whole team. Two special mentions go to Neil Stacey, returning after a year out (with a snapped achilles!) and now really finding his rhythm, and Katie Minchella for deputising in goal.
Final score Ben Rhydding 6’s 0-1 Slazenger 5’s
