Airedale

Slazenger 4’s game against Airedale turned, rather surprisingly, into a fractious affair with several flash points throughout the game.

The home team started brightly, fielding just the one adult outfield player at the start of the match and once again quickly got into their stride, passing the ball around, retaining possession reasonably well and creating several goalscoring chances, that with a little composure should have been converted into goals.

Aidan Hopkinson and Tom Pitchforth once again linked up well in midfield with Matthew Smith out wide on the left and Matthew Stacey taking his position on the right wing.

Airedale whilst physically bigger lacked the team play to cause many problems initially, but midway through the first half they started to build some momentum and tried to be physically imposing against the younger players. This wasn’t going to happen against the home team despite some agricultural tackles flying in and with some composed interceptions from Matthew Feather in defence who took the ball calmly out of defence and set up several attacks.

Even though Robert Cann was nearly cut in half by one robust challenge he continued to take the attack to the opposition which served to inspire all the team. Half-time score was 0-0.

The second half continued much the same as the first with some poor tackling, the opposition arguing with one another if they made a mistake and this frustration increased when Tom Pitchforth had a shot on goal kicked over the goal line by the Airedale keeper.

Slazengers now scented victory and started to make better use of the wings and succeeded in getting behind the Airedale defence and created more goalscoring opportunities, whilst still being vulnerable to breakaway attacks from the opposition midfield.

The game was won when Matthew Stacey was found in space at the top of the goalmouth and cooly converted Slaz’s second goal.

Final score 2-0. Slazenger 4’s next game is at home to Bradford.Slazenger 4’s game against Airedale turned, rather surprisingly, into a fractious affair with several flash points throughout the game.

The home team started brightly, fielding just the one adult outfield player at the start of the match and once again quickly got into their stride, passing the ball around, retaining possession reasonably well and creating several goalscoring chances, that with a little composure should have been converted into goals.

Aidan Hopkinson and Tom Pitchforth once again linked up well in midfield with Matthew Smith out wide on the left and Matthew Stacey taking his position on the right wing.

Airedale whilst physically bigger lacked the team play to cause many problems initially, but midway through the first half they started to build some momentum and tried to be physically imposing against the younger players. This wasn’t going to happen against the home team despite some agricultural tackles flying in and with some composed interceptions from Matthew Feather in defence who took the ball calmly out of defence and set up several attacks.

Even though Robert Cann was nearly cut in half by one robust challenge he continued to take the attack to the opposition which served to inspire all the team.

Half-time score was 0-0.

The second half continued much the same as the first with some poor tackling, the opposition arguing with one another if they made a mistake and this frustration increased when Tom Pitchforth had a shot on goal kicked over the goal line by the Airedale keeper.

Slazengers now scented victory and started to make better use of the wings and succeeded in getting behind the Airedale defence and created more goalscoring opportunities, whilst still being vulnerable to breakaway attacks from the opposition midfield.

The game was won when Matthew Stacey was found in space at the top of the goalmouth and cooly converted Slaz’s second goal.

Final score 2-0. Slazenger 4’s next game is at home to Bradford.

It was back to business for Slazenger’s after the festive season and they didn’t fail to disappoint.

Looking refreshed and raring to go, this was highlighted by a series of excellent attacking movements, resulting in two early short corners, and not long after this early pressure resulted in two goals, one each for Robert Cann and Tim Hunter.

Slazenger’s kept applying the pressure and dominated possession throughout both halves, with some excellent link up play, they forced a further two goals, the first from Matthew Stacey, and then Robert Cann going in for his second. Half time score 4-0.

In the second half Slazenger’s once again enjoyed some excellent attacking play that was backed up with some determined and effective defensive play, enabling the midfield and attack to push up and inevitably score some more goals. Slazenger’s began to use the wing’s more frequently and In the heart of midfield, Tom Pitchford, veteran Geoff Birkett and Aidan Hopkinson were running riot, which resulted in Aidan scoring an impressive goal, and Robert Cann, eager to complete his hat trick, ramming the ball in the back of the net from a reverse strike and goal number six for the team.

However Slaz weren’t finished there and Aidan Hopkinson found Harry Bullock’s cross and there was only one place that ball would end up. Final score Slazenger’s 7-0 Airedale.

Slazenger’s next match is at home to Bradford.

Slazenger 4’s played well against Airedale 3’s in short spells but appeared anxious during the rest of the game. The team managed to play the occasional good passage of play but it was too often interspersed with sloppy play that allowed the opposition to defend deeply and hit the home side on the break.

Matthew Stacey and Aidan Hopkinson played well in midfield and Matthew Smith stuck to his man-marking task well. There were very few scoring chances for the home side despite Peter Gunning and Robert Cann working tirelessly upfront. The home side lacked a cutting edge in the final 3rd of the field.

The defence was solid and helped mount several attacks but time after time they petered out without scoring. The away team only managed to force Richard Smyth in goal to make a couple of sharp saves, other than that he was a spectator for the rest of the game.

The nearest Slazenger’s came to scoring was when Rowan Tejura thought he had successfully converted a penalty corner only for it to be disallowed for being hit just outside the penalty area. Next game is away against Bradford at 3.00pm.