Slazenger Hockey Club

Brigg

Report: 09-11-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (8) vs. (1) Brigg 4th’s

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On a cold afternoon Slazenger 3’s latest fixture was away at Scunthorpe against Brigg Men’s 4th team. Despite a few absences due to injury and unavailability Slazengers started the match

with a good tempo and immediately took the game by the scruff of the neck. Time and again the midfield of Dan Levitt and Anwar Al-Khaili were instrumental in snuffing out any danger and starting attacks of their own.

It was captain for the day Luke Gueli who broke the deadlock against a slightly disorganised Brigg defence, scoring with a deft touch. He was involved again when a surging run into the opposition was only partially dealt with and winger Danny Moakes swept the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

By now Brigg struggled to contain the opposition who were almost rampant in their attacks. Half backs Alex Calderley and Simon Taylor were allowed the opportunity to make surging runs down the flanks to initiate further attacks.

Credit to the opposition they remained a threat and their forwards kept the Slazenger central defence of James Higgins and Mark Kitchen honest with 2 or 3 dangerous break aways.
That said Luke Gueli added a further 3 goals and striker Byron Dean added a brace of his own to make the half time score 7-0 to the Horbury team.

The match was a classic game of 2 halves for the Brigg keeper. As vulnerable as he had looked in the first half he was almost unbeatable in the second half. Despite being camped in the opposition half Slazenger’s simply couldn’t find a way past him. The Horbury team were all keen to get on the scoresheet and tried to force the pace rather than just playing the simple passing game that had brought them success in the first half. At one point it resembled a duel as forward Byron Dean sought his hat-trick goal and the opposition keeper was determined to prevent it, even saving a penalty flick.

This over commitment of players was the reason Brigg were able to score a conciliation goal late in the game. That said it was good to see Slazengers respond immediately with the best move of the half when the ball went out wide, then a quick interchange of passes resulted with Dan Levitt having time and space, in an otherwise crowded penalty area, for a successful shot on goal.

Final score 8-1.

Report: 28-09-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (1) vs. (3) Brigg 3rd’s

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Slazenger Mens 3’s first league fixture of the season was a sobering experience away against a skilful and energetic Brigg team. The Horbury team had shown good form during pre-season and had strong expectations for a decent performance.
However, it was the home side who started the brightest and were posing serious problems for the away team. Slazengers looked off the pace and a little unsure of what they were doing. But for good defensive work from Mark Kitchen and Tony Walker, they could have gone behind on several occasions.

Slowly, Slazengers began to grow into the game and started to create some attacking opportunities for themselves, without really committing to the movement in serious numbers. This gave everyone some renewed confidence and the Horbury side began playing much more fluidly just before half-time.

The away team got off to a great start to the second half when a goalmouth melee resulted in a scrambled goal for Slazengers.

Unfortunately, the Brigg drew level soon after and quickly followed this with another goal after a couple of generous umpiring decisions.

Slazengers never gave up, but were playing more with their hearts than their heads. Lots of hustle and bustle, but they lacked a bit of quality in their team play and whilst pushing up the pitch in search of an equaliser, they left the keeper Giles Field, exposed to a counter attack in which he conceded a penalty flick which was duly converted.

Final score was 3-1 to the opposition.

Report: 09-02-2013 – Ladies 3rd’s (4) vs. (4) Brigg 2nd’s

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Slazenger’s ladies 3rds battled hard against Brigg and the points were shared. Slazenger’s were 3-0 down at half time about some spirited half time team talk and positive attitude resulted in Slazenger’s coming out fired in the second half.

Two goals were converted by Claire dunstan with an amazing run into the D. Naomi Horsley also got on the score board with a spirited run from the defensive half. Lauren Fealy converted her first ever goal for Slazenger’s with some style on the left post. Brigg caught slazenger’s on the break and the points were shared.

MOM went to Emily Entwistle for a spirited performance on the left of midfield.

Report: 15-12-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (4) vs. (0) Brigg 4th’s

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Slazenger’s 3’s last league fixture of the year was at home against Brigg 4’s. Having beaten them twice already in league and cup this season the home team went into the match with confidence but aware that they couldn’t be complacent.

It took the home team quite a while to settle and get into their groove after some concerted pressure from the opposition.

However, once they settled into their team formation, the home team began creating scoring opportunities. It took Ian hedges breaking into the goalmouth to convert the first goal from the left hand side, after several previously squandered efforts.

Brigg were determined and had several pacy players in midfield but they were closely marshalled by the Slazenger’s midfield. Dan Levitt and Luke Gueli provided the width for swift counter attacks and it was from one of these that Steve Johnson was able to tap the ball into the goal at the back post.

Half-time score 2-0.

Second half the home team again had to work hard for decent possession and just couldn’t find the net despite several glorious opportunities to kill the game.

It was left to Man of the Match Jack Mumford to provide the killer punch with a fearsome shot, to the right of the goal, that the keeper was never going to stop. The same player then followed it up with a smartly taken shot on the edge of the goalmouth.

Final score 4-0.

Report: 27-10-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (7) vs. (0) Brigg 4’s

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Slaz mens 3’s had no regular league fixture on Saturday, so played their Sunday cup fixture instead. Their opposition, Brigg 4’s had been defeated in the league 7-0 already, so Slaz were hoping to equal their previous result.

Brigg’s recently laid pitch delivered quick ball movement, however, it also led to the ball bouncing and bobbling, making for fast, if slightly unpredictable behaviour.

The first few minutes were evenly matched with both teams adjusting to the surface and finding their footing. However, it was Slaz who broke the deadlock; forcing a penalty corner midway through the first half. A quick flick out from Jack Mumford was drilled into the back of the net by Paul Johnson; bouncing under the keepers pads. A one goal cushion did not lift the team to safety, and they continued pressuring, with several missed opportunities as the team struggled to deal with the bouncing surface.

The second goal came from a little by surprise. Slaz were pressuring inside the 23 meter line, the ball came back and out to Alan Perry at left back, who injected the ball at pace from outside the 23 line. The ball bobbled and bounced, with no-one getting a touch until it bounced off the keepers pads and into the net. An own goal under the new rules.

With some daylight between the two teams, the visitors pressed on, to strengthen the result. Darren Buttery took a cross across the circle, to slot his first past the keeper just before half time.

At 3-0 up, Slaz regrouped, and pressed on.

With the midfield passing more fluidly the team sat well inside Briggs half for much of the second half, controlling play. From this strong base, a series of rapid passes moved the ball down the right wing, crossing to Johnson in the centre, who set up Ian Hedges to sweep the ball into the back of the net. This was followed up quickly by a further goal from Rowan Tejura to open up clear distance and 5 goals between the two teams.

Hedges picked up a second, after a powerful shot from Jack Mumford was deflected past the keeper on the reverse at the left post, however, the flood gates seemed to close up for a while afterwards. Slaz played some great posession hockey, passing through the midfield, however a series of good saves from the keeper and lacklustre finishing kept the scoreline at 6-0. With time running out, another breakaway movement set up Darren Buttery to net his second, finishing the game in style.

Slaz will face The City of York in the Cup Semi-finals on the 11th November, and return to league action hosting Lincoln on Saturday.