Men’s 1st’s (3) vs. (0) Wakefield 2nd’s
Slaz men’s 1s hosted Wakefield at home this week, looking to recover from an unlucky result against Chapeltown and get one over on their local rivals. Slaz started poorly, struggling to string long periods of possession together, but were defensively resolute and didn’t concede many chances. Then, as they grew into the game, Joe Minchella made the most of a penalty corner with a drag flick into the top left corner to put Slaz 1-0 up at the break.
Then, going into the second half, Slaz applied strong and meaningful pressure throughout, resulting in a number of breakaway moves and a first goal in ten years for fullback Robin Brearton. Finally, Slaz sealed the deal with a third goal well taken by Danny Perry at a short corner to seal a comfortable 3-0 win. Special mentions go to goalkeeper Andy Loftus who made a handful of key saves and notched his third clean sheet of the season.
Men’s 2nd’s (2) vs. (6) Louth 1st’s
Saturday’s match began under a soft, persistent drizzle—a hint, perhaps, of the afternoon to come. Louth 1sts arrived sitting comfortably near the top of the table, their form on both home turf and distant pitches hard to ignore. Slaz, buoyed by last week’s win at Rotherham, knew this would be a very different challenge. As hosts, Slazenger fielded a strong side and opened brightly, moving the ball with real purpose and menace. Yet it didn’t take long to see that Louth carried a sharper edge: they challenged everything, and broke with a pace that showed their threat.
Even so, Slaz struck first. Jack Sumner tucked the opener away at the back post after man of the match James Stevenson sliced through the defence. The celebration barely had time to settle before Louth answered—three times in quick succession. (Best not mention the third goal coming off a cheeky 1-2 with the strikers own calf muscle..) Slaz refused to fold. Just before half time, Ian Hedges beat the Louth back line and squared the ball for Alek Thompson to finish, giving the hosts a deserved second.
After the break, Slaz played some of their best hockey of the season—quick hands, sharp movement, chances appearing across the pitch. But against a ruthless opponent, the odd slow pass was a gift too easily accepted. Where Slazenger couldn’t quite convert, Louth were clinical, adding another three to claim a slightly flattering 6–2 victory. It was unfortunate that the 5th goal was helped along by the forwards own foot, but the 6th was the goal of the game, defender Will Buckley beating his own keeper with the perfectly deflected own goal… if only it had been at the other end of the pitch!
Slaz battled to the final whistle, and while the score line was disappointing, the performances from everyone couldn’t be faulted. Slazenger now look to regroup ahead of their final match before the Christmas break, a meeting with mid-table Lindum 4ths.
Men’s 3rd’s (1) vs. (7) Leeds University 2nd’s
Slazenger’s arrived at Leeds Uni to discover that the weather had decided to recreate the Great Flood, presumably in an attempt to wash away any hopes of a competitive hockey match. Torrential rain hammered down, the pitch resembled a paddling pool, and the ball moved with all the predictability of a toddler on roller skates.
Leeds Uni, apparently part-duck, adapted immediately. Within five minutes, Slazenger’s were 2–0 down and questioning whether turning up had actually been the right life choice. The home side slipped, slid, and somehow scored twice while Slazenger’s were still figuring out which end of the pitch they were supposed to be defending.
But then—hope!
A short corner. A moment of calm in the storm (well, as calm as anything can be when water is falling horizontally). The Slazenger’s captain Damo Greig stepped up and absolutely leathered the ball into the net, making it 2–1 and temporarily convincing everyone that a comeback was possible.
This illusion lasted approximately six minutes, despite the efforts in midfield of Jack Sanderson, Aidy Buckley and Dan Sprayley. Leeds Uni nabbed a third before halftime, sending Slazenger into the break trailing 3–1, soaked, shivering, and silently drafting complaint letters to the Met Office.
The second half… well… happened. Slaz tried to go forwards with Will Carr, Seth Hoole and Scott Carruthers out wide. Yet despite some great blocks by Harry Firth and Sammy in goal Leeds scored four more goals. Each one greeted by Slazenger’s with the same enthusiasm usually reserved for surprise dentist appointments. The game ended 7–1, though the players may have been too waterlogged to see the scoreboard clearly.
In summary:
Leeds Uni were good.
Slazenger’s were soggy.
The weather was malicious.
Men’s 4th’s (P) vs. (P) Chesterfield 4th’s
Game cancelled due to opposition not being able to field a team.
Development (6) vs. (0) Rotherham
The Slazengers Development team were ready for action… the weather, less so. Sideways rain, diagonal rain, possibly even upwards rain — we had it all. Rotherham were delayed on the M1 thanks to a nasty accident, so the start time was pushed back. Slaz used this bonus time wisely: to try out for synchronised soaking! But once things finally kicked off, Nikolai had such a quiet first half he achieved a level of calm usually reserved for yoga retreats, all thanks to the unstoppable defensive partnership of Tony the Wise and Ella the Tiny-but-Fearless. Together they turned the Slaz defensive 25 into a “No Entry” zone. Katie and Ollie guarded the flanks like absolute pros, sliding in with tackles that said: “Not today, thanks.”
In midfield, the iconic mum–son duo Gemma and Noah linked up beautifully, assisted by wing wizards Izzy and Amelia. Noah topped it off with some lovely goals — proving that family chemistry does, indeed, show up on the scoresheet. Up front, Ruth and Cerys worked their socks off, with Ruth sticking away a tidy goal of her own. While Rotherham were still waiting on players, Jude and Alistair jumped in to help them out, wearing blue temporarily and showing great sportsmanship. They gave the Slaz team a proper challenge and kept the game competitive and fun. Once the rest of the Rotherham players arrived, they switched back to Slaz green and immediately made things lively — Alistair flying down the right wing and scoring a goal, Jude slotting into defence and putting in some beautifully timed tackles. Second-half Nikolai returned to his usual dramatic style, making key saves and keeping a well-earned clean sheet.
Player of the Match: Ella, for playing with such maturity, she commanded the defence like a tiny general directing troops — only with better footwork and significantly less shouting.
With no Adelaide to take her weekly accolade… Donut of the Day: Amelia, for continuing her unofficial tour of South Yorkshire hockey teams, and deciding Val’s teas were so good she needed two teas. Frankly… understandable.
Special Mention: Alys, who bravely took on her first ever umpiring duty in conditions that could only be described as “biblical.” She swapped her stick for a whistle – well done, kiddo! 👏
Ladies 1st’s (1) vs. (0) Harrogate 2nd’s
Slazengers Serve Up a Sweet Slice of Victory in Harrogate
On a crisp, chilly Harrogate morning—the kind perfectly suited for warm scones and steaming pots of Earl Grey—Slazengers arrived ready to whisk up something delicious against their hosts. With an average age of 23, the travelling side brought a delightful blend of fresh éclairs and well-proved fruit loaves; a mixture of youthful bounce and seasoned reliability.
It was the experienced layer of the cake that broke the deadlock. Coops, ever the crafty baker, pilfered the ball from a faffing defender on a 16-yard hit-out—like swiping the last bun from the counter when no one’s looking—and sent a high, crisp shot straight into the top shelf. A proper ginger-snap of a finish, giving Slazengers a 1–0 lead to savour.
Through midfield, Hannah danced like she was twirling through the tearoom with a silver cake stand, gliding past challenges with the grace of a perfectly iced fondant fancy. Meanwhile, debutant Lauren—swiftly dubbed Mini Emma—served up defensive tackles as smooth and reliable as a clotted-cream dollop. Alongside her, the backline trio of Senior Citizen Emma (adding maturity like a vintage fruitcake), Eliz, and Becca battled with the density and determination of a well-baked Yorkshire parkin.
The second half saw Slazengers dominate possession like a table overflowing with afternoon tea delights. But despite the pressure, the extra helpings wouldn’t come. Coops narrowly missed a back-post tap-in—like a profiterole just slipping off the fork—followed by an opposition foot on the goal line that went unnoticed by the umpires, who were perhaps distracted by their frequent tea-break-style chats with the captains. Chances for Aryna and Alys rolled just wide, like rogue currants escaping a scone.
That second half felt longer than queueing for Betty’s on a Saturday, but when the final whistle finally chimed like a polite teacup on saucer, the scoreboard remained a sweet, satisfying 1–0 to Slazengers.
Three points secured, the perfect pastry tucked neatly into the tin. Slazengers now look forward to next week’s home fixture against Scarborough—hoping to serve up another delicious performance.
Ladies 2nd’s (4) vs. (1) Leeds Adel 2nd’s
Slazenger 2s were looking to improve on recent performances. They had first push back and started the game dominating play with sustained pressure on the Adel defence. It was Captain Naomi Frith who scored after only 5minutes to take the lead. Adel didn’t give up and closed down players quickly, as well as attacking through different channels. Goal keeper Erin Haigh made some crucial saves, and not long later Maisie Davis scored at 13 minutes, and again at 16, playing with confidence.
Adel’s attempts to attack saw them be awarded a penalty corner, which they converted, taking the teams into half time at 3-1 in slazengers favour.
The second half started with Adel wanting to swing the momentum their way, but the solid slazengers defence held up. Half way through the second half Slazengers attacked in force, seeing the forward line linking up beautifully, and in a move started by Louise Haigh, Maisie found her 3rd goal of the game.
The final score was 4-1 to Slazengers with player of the match going to Natalie Beech for her exceptional work in defence
Ladies 3rd’s (3) vs. (1) Huddersfield Dragons 2nd’s
Slazengers Ladies 3s travelled to Huddersfield Dragons knowing they were in for a challenging fixture, and the hosts wasted no time in proving it. From the first whistle Dragons came out hard, pressing high and forcing Slazengers onto the back foot. It took a few minutes for the visitors to settle, but once they found their rhythm the first half developed into an exciting, end-to-end contest.
Both sides displayed impressive skill, carving out chances and moving the ball with intent. In the centre of the pitch, joint Player of the Match Erin Kelly began to take control. Winning tackles, dictating play and feeding clever passes into the D, Kelly helped shift the momentum back in Slazengers’ favour. Despite this pressure, it was Dragons who managed to edge ahead, taking a narrow lead into half-time.
Slazengers returned to the pitch with focus and determination. At the back, central defender Lisa Minchella marshalled the defensive unit superbly, breaking down attacks and keeping Dragons at bay. Behind her, goalkeeper Lauren Hattesley, battling through (self inflicted) illness, produced several brave saves—going to ground more than once to deny the hosts a second goal.
As the pressure grew, Slazengers earned a short corner. Joint Player of the Match Ellie Page stepped up, took the ball wide, and lashed it home from an improbably tight angle to level the scores.
Page’s blistering pace on the wing caused constant headaches for the Dragons defence. In one surging run she fired the ball across the D to Caro Scofield, who finished clinically to put Slazengers ahead for the first time.
After a short spell on the sidelines to cool (her head) down, Page returned, and soon made her mark again. Driving down the right, she weaved past defenders and slotted home from yet another narrow angle, sealing her second of the match and Slazengers’ third taking the final score to 3-1.
It was a performance built on teamwork, determination, and intelligent hockey. With this impressive win, Slazengers Ladies 3s move to the top of the table, a position well deserved after such a committed display.
Ladies 4th’s (0) vs. (4) Driffield 3rd’s
Ladies 4’s played second in the league, Driffield 3’s, at home this weekend. Expecting a tough game, Slazengers rose to the challenge and played some great hockey. Michelle Adam directed a strong defence, Beth Buckley showed her tackling skills once again. Mandy Greewood made some great runs upfront but Slazengers lost the game 4:0. Player – Poppy Thachrah.
U14 Girls vs. Wakefield
The girls rounded off the first half of their season so far in style, and even with a few key players missing, they delivered an absolute showcase of teamwork, grit, and skill. Slaz came out flying despite the cold, immediately winning three short corners. Persistence paid off when Amelia opened the scoring, calmly slotting the ball into the corner once the goalkeeper committed. The momentum didn’t stop there. With the defence of Tilda, Beth and Lorna rock-solid behind them, the whole team pushed forward with purpose.
A brilliant run down the right wing from Captain Lauren set up the second goal, finding Izzy in the D, who finished with total composure. Pressure continued to build, with Katie reading the game perfectly and breaking up play, and soon Edie added her name to the scoresheet. Experience showed as Ruth led another strong press, allowing Amelia to intercept and feed Lauren, who made no mistake in front of goal. Slaz went into half-time 4–0 up and absolutely buzzing.
At half-time, Captain Lauren and GK Ami rallied the squad, keeping spirits high and focus sharp. Slaz picked up exactly where they left off. A selfless pass from Katie set up Amelia for her second of the match. The forward trio of Ella, Edie and Ruth worked tirelessly, forcing saves from the Wakefield keeper and keeping the pressure on. Midfield duo Lauren and Amelia linked up beautifully, supported by Izzy and Katie on the wings. Georgie and Cerys slotted straight in when subbed on, keeping the tempo high.
The next breakthrough came from an unstoppable Edie after a powerful drive forward from Tilda. Ella came agonisingly close several times but never stopped battling. Another short corner gave defender Beth her moment. She stepped up and drilled a perfect strike into the corner to make it 7–0. The defensive line stayed organised and unshakeable, leaving GK Ami with little more than spectating duties.
A final short corner wrapped things up: Amelia struck cleanly to complete her hat-trick and seal an 8–0 victory.
The opposition selected Captain Lauren as their Player of the Match for her dominance, leadership and work rate. Slaz voted Ella as their Player of the Match for her maturity, intelligence and growing confidence on the pitch. And the Donut Award went to Amelia, making it a double donut week for her.
Huge thanks to Aidy and James for umpiring today, and to our wonderful group of parents, your support creates such a positive atmosphere for the girls.
U12 Boys A team – Division 1
Slaz vs Sheffield (0-1)
Slaz set up well from the off with Noah pressing with Zach and Harry making good challenges at the back. Alistair showed his pace on the right with a good run and cross but Matthew couldn’t convert the chance. Trysten battled well on the left but Sheffield and had the first clear chances with Nikolai controlling his D. Noah and Alistair worked tirelessly to give Slaz options on the break and made some good penetrations into the Sheffield D set up by some nice passes from the back by Harry and Zach.
Sheffield won a couple of short corners, and despite great stops by Noah and Alistair Sheffield squeezed the ball in.
Slaz dug deep and played some nice hockey with Caleb coming on in midfield and Noah dropping into defence but Sheffield were structured and stopped the Slaz attacks. Sheffield finished on the stronger winning more short corners. Nikolai made some fantastic saves with Trysten getting back to help and make a freak defensive tackle. On the final whistle Slaz won a short corner but couldn’t convert their chance.
Slaz vs Doncaster (0-2)
Doncaster started quickly and drove into the Slaz D with Harry making a great stick stop to stop the shot.
Slaz had a good attack with some nice quick passing from Noah, Alistair and Matthew but Doncaster’s defence was well drilled and kept the attacks out. Zach and Harry made some important tackles in defence with Tyrsten and Alistair making some great runs to turn defence into attack. Nikolai made some good saves from the Doncaster early shots but conceded a deflected short corner strike.
A well worked move from Alistair and Harry set Noah into the D but his reverse stick shot was just wide.
Matthew made some good runs upfront to find space, chase balls and put pressure on the Doncaster defence. Noah played a lovely ball into the D to find a foot and win a short corner but Doncaster defended it well and cleared. Zach and Harry worked hard and battled well making some good tackles and passes from the back. Alistair and Caleb showed good play on the wings with Noah always poising a threat from the middle but despite a big effort from all Doncaster were just a bit bigger and stronger and put a second goal in right at the end with Nikolai making a good initial first save.
Slaz vs Harrogate (1-0)
Harrogate won an early short corner from the start with Harry making a great save on the line and Nikolai saving from the long corner attack. Zach, Trysten and Noah battling for the ball to clear the danger. A nice play from Harry to Alistair, through to Noah created a chance for Matthew but couldn’t convert. Harrogate showed come nice passing and control but Slaz stayed structured and worked well together to turn the ball over and set up the attack with Caleb and Matthew. Harrogate had a good attack finding a spare player in the D but Nikolai was not to be beaten as a great stick save onto the post followed up by a great sweep out of defence.
Alistair and Noah made some great breaks and crosses into the D but the Harrogate keeper made the clearance. Harry and Zach made some good tackles and passing from the back leading to a breakthrough goal with a shot from Noah at the top of the D and made sure by Matthew putting the ball in to give Slaz a deserved lead. More pressure from Slaz with Trysten having a nice shot saved by the GK. Harrogate had some good play and pressure winning a short corner but Slaz held strong with some fantastic blocks by Noah, Alistair and Matthew making crucial tackles. The Slaz boys showed great teamwork and fighting spirit for there deserved 1-0 win.
Slaz vs York (0-4)
York started fast with a nice attack down the right and finding a spare player on the back post to give them an early lead. Slaz got reorganised and with Zach and Harry at the back, with Noah and Alistair making good tackles to keep York out. York won a short corner and after a goal line scramble with Nikolai, Zach and Harry making good blocks York managed to get the ball in. Trysten worked hard on the left with Matthew in midfield and Caleb finding good positions up front. York were strong and well drilled but Slaz kept battling with Harry, Noah and Zach.
Alistair made some awesome blocks from the York shots but York kept coming and won several short corners but Slaz kept most of them out with good saves from Nikolai with Zach and Noah clearing away to Matthew and Caleb but York got their 3rd short corner and finally made the pressure count by scoring their 3rd goal from it. York added another right at the final whistle. The boys battled to the end and never gave up showing real Slaz spirit against a strong York team. Player of the tournament went to Nikolai for his great performance and phenomenal saves.
U12 Girls Match Report – Division 1
What began as a strong turnout of two full squads quickly turned into a battle against illness, with players dropping one by one. With numbers tight, the girls combined into a single Division 1 team, and Penny and Grace stepped in brilliantly for their final tournament of the year.
Thirsk – 0–1 Loss
Thirsk came out strong, dominating early as our girls settled into the tournament. A break midway through the match gave them a clear strike on goal, putting us 1–0 down. Despite the setback, the girls responded well with determined defending—Etta, Katie and Ella shutting down further chances. Edie, Amalie and Georgie produced some promising drives forward, creating a few opportunities in the D, but Thirsk were quick to clear their lines. A solid finish, even if the result stayed 1–0.
York – 1–0 Win (Scorer: Edie)
A quick reset—complete with a lively warm-up in the car park—had the team fired up. They came out fighting, pressing high and tracking back with real hunger. Defensively the girls were exceptional, cutting off options with tight marking. Any shots that got through were calmly dealt with by Frances in goal.
Cerys, Penny and Grace worked hard to move the ball wide, while Katie and Edie linked well to drive forward, sending dangerous crosses into the D. Both Penny and Grace came close to finding deflections. The breakthrough finally came from relentless pressure, with Edie smashing home from a rebound to secure a well-earned win.
Hull – 1–1 Draw (Scorer: Edie)
Hull caught us cold with an early goal in the opening minutes, but the girls quickly regrouped. Strong structure, tight marking and confident ball carrying saw them take control of the game. They dominated possession with powerful drives down the wings. When Hull did manage to hold the ball, the girls pressed instantly and effectively. Numerous shots on goal were denied by Hull’s excellent keeper, but Edie’s persistence finally paid off as she slotted home the equaliser.
Doncaster – 2–1 Win (Scorers: Edie & Katie)
Doncaster struck first, breaking through with a powerful shot to make it 1–0. The girls held their composure, using the full width of the pitch and communicating superbly. Their intelligent movement from free hits carved open Doncaster’s defence, creating real opportunities. Edie levelled with a perfectly placed finish from a wide angle, before Katie added the second—again from tight space—beating both the defender and the keeper. A fantastic 2–1 victory.
The girls finished 2nd in Division 1—their highest position this season so far. Their effort, teamwork and willingness to listen and adapt were outstanding. A special mention to Penny and Grace, who stepped up brilliantly. Player of the Tournament went to Grace, who grew in confidence throughout the day, battled tirelessly, found excellent positions and communicated superbly. Well deserved! Thank you to all the parents for your continued support, and an extra shout-out to Rob and Will, who both stepped in at the last minute to umpire—not only for us, but for other teams as well.
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