Slazengers 1st came against top of the league Airdale , this didn’t faze a well drilled slaz side who dominated the game through out going in at half time with a 3-1 lead.
Airdale had a 10 min spell where they scored a further goal to close the gap in the early part of the 2nd half, though Slaz took control by scoring 2 more goals to seal victory.
Goals scored by man of the match Danny perry 3 and Richard tuddnham 2.
Slazengers 1st’s travelled away to Airedale and after a strong start were unfortunate to lose 3-2. The visitors started well, with good attacking intent, but were caught on the break, going 3 goals down.
Slazengers fought their way back into the game, scoring 2 goals in quick succession from Isaac fisher and Richard Tuddenham. Despite 2 goals coming from the team, they were unable to find an equaliser.
After a good start to the season this was very disappointing display. Slazengers look to hit back this week against a strong Grimsby side.
On 15th February Slazengers 5ths Mens Development team travelled to Keighley to play Airedale. A lot of pressure had to be soaked up in the first 10 minutes of the match but the defence and midfield kept any shots on goal to a minimum. Applying our own pressure and keeping a good formation Slazengers spent a good deal of time in the opponent’s half ending with a short corner. Unlike some recent matches we were able to take advantage of this with Harry Gunning slotting home the ball in the Airedale net.
Up by one goal at half time and showing a great team approach the second half started full of confidence. However the second half saw Airedale determined to recover and they equalised with a high shot over Slazenger keeper Harry Buttery. Now with a challenge, a resolute Slazengers team stuck together and played good hockey for each other providing Alex King the opportunity to score.
The great team spirit and teamwork continued to build and Slazengers provided further opportunities before Alex King again finished well. Airedale 1-3 Slazengers. A great team performance by everyone.
The under 14’s started brightly this season in their first encounter. The squad is a new one but the welcome addition of Dan Levitt and Matt Stacey made all the difference.
The back 4 consisted of Tom Atkinson, Ben Stevenson, Jacob Dennison and young Chris Gascoigne with Danny Alderson in goals. In midfield the team started with Dan Levitt, Alice Gascoigne, Captain Matthew Stacey and Nick Caldersley with Matthew Chilton and Harry Gunning leading the forward line. Hannah Chilton started as substitute.
Airedale 2 – 1 Slazengers (Stacey 23’)
The first game against Airedale saw some settling in nerves as Slaz hadn’t played together as a team and many hadn’t played on a full pitch before. The back 4 coped well wit early pressure and Stacey and Gunning lead a good attacking line up the pitch. Airedale however had their own good players and after a disallowed goal Slaz were caught on the hop a quick attack from two talented Airedale midfielders. Slaz responded with some great triangular paces between Stacey, Levitt and Gunning through the centre and it was Captain Stacey who took his goal well to bring parity. Both teams were playing at their optimum now with goal chances at both ends but it was Airedale who took their chance with Slaz left high up the pitch looking for a goal making up the hole left in midfield and scoring past Danny Alderson.
Slazengers 5 – 0 Pocklington (Levitt 5’, Stacey 7’ 12’, Calderley 22’, A. Gascoigne 25’)
The team performance had been good and switching around Harry Gunning to a more sweeping role whilst pushing forward Dan Levitt made the difference in the second game. Slaz were in charge against Pocklington. Dominating for 90% of the game Dan Levitt and Matt Stacey drove attack after attack onto the Pocklington keeper. Dan scored first with Matthew following with 2 in quick succession. Then the wingers started to show their in fluence with Matt and Stacey supporting Alice and Nick both to score giving Slaz a very healthy 5-0 win.
Bradford 0 – 3 Slazengers (Levitt 3’ 20’, M. Chilton 25’)
Dan Levitt wasn’t going to let Captain Stacey have the share of the goals so against a tougher Bradford side he pounced early to score against a sluggish defence. Bradford responded well but couldn’t get past Jacob Dennison or Chris Gascoinge at the back. A counter attack by Slaz gave Dan another goal and in the dying minutes the whole team combined in a flowing counter attack to push the ball to Hannah playing up front for her to scramble in a final goal.
A cracking start to the year with Matthew Stacey leading the line well as captain, however for her encouragement and vocalisation throughout the match the Coach’s Player of the Tournament was Alice Gascoigne. Well done everyone a superb U14 team performance.
Slazengers 4’s faced top of the table Bradford on Saturday and performed very well in their last home league fixture of the season.
Bradford were a well drilled side with a good mixture of youth and a couple of experienced first teamers that ensured Slazenger 4’s had to play with a good tempo and make use of the wings if they were to compete.
Aidan Hopkinson, Tom Pitchforth and Geoff Birkett worked hard to create the space in midfield to enable the team to push forward and attack. Tim Hunter put in several crosses from the left and Matthew Stacey caused havoc on the right wing, supplying several attacking opportunities for the forwards to score.
However, it was Matthew himself who benefited from an accurate pass, when in space, at the top of the goal mouth, to accurately place the ball in the net for the home team’s first goal.
Slazengers continued to create good goal scoring opportunities but squandered several glorious chances with poor finishing, trying to hurry their passes and forcing the play. The home team had to concentrate and Chris Hopkinson and Danny Croxall were kept busy with several attacking moves from the opposition. Half time score was 1-0.
The second half saw Slazengers keep up the work rate and continue to create chances without really convincing in front of goal. As the game progressed the league leaders stepped up a gear and really pushed for an equaliser and but for Richard Smyth in goal pulling of several smart saves, the home team would have conceded.
The game became slightly fractious for a while, with the Bradford umpire not really helping the situation. However, Slazengers finally succumbed to an equaliser when the 2 senior Bradford players linked up well and slotted the ball into the far corner.
There were further scares at both ends before the game finished final score 1-1. Slazenger 4’s last game of the season is away against Rotherham.
